Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a stark warning that he would personally take up arms again to defend his homeland if the United States, under the leadership of Donald Trump, were to launch a military invasion. This dramatic statement comes in direct response to escalating threats from the former US president, who has openly mused about military action against the South American nation.
Trump's Provocative Threats and 'Cocaine' Accusations
The diplomatic crisis intensified when Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, threatened Colombia with military intervention similar to the recent US attack on Venezuela. He labelled the country as "very sick" and claimed it was "run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States." Trump further alleged the existence of "cocaine mills and cocaine factories," vowing this would not continue for long.
While Colombia remains the world's leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence whatsoever linking President Petro to the narcotics trade. The industry is largely controlled by illegal armed groups, including the Gulf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN), and dissident factions of the demobilised FARC guerrillas. When pressed on whether a Venezuela-style intervention was possible for Colombia, Trump simply replied, "It sounds good to me."
Petro's Fiery Rebuttal and Guerrilla Past
President Petro, a former member of the M-19 leftist guerrilla group who demobilised in the 1990s, forcefully rejected Trump's allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared on social media platform X, adding, "Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me."
He issued a grave warning about the potential consequences of a US attack. "If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains," Petro stated. He also cautioned that detaining a popular president would "unleash the 'jaguar' of the people." In his most personal pledge, the president, who participated in drafting Colombia's 1991 constitution after laying down his arms, said, "I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again."
Rapidly Deteriorating Relations and Regional Fallout
The war of words marks a stunning breakdown in a long-standing partnership. Colombia has historically been a key US ally in combating drug trafficking, enjoying broad support in Washington. However, relations have soured dramatically since Trump took office.
In a sign of the deepening rift, the US revoked Petro's visa in September 2023 after he urged American soldiers to disobey illegal orders. The following October, Washington imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife, and several close collaborators.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Saturday that the president's security detail had been reinforced, highlighting concerns over the escalating situation. While some right-wing opposition figures in Colombia have aligned themselves with Trump, the threat of a US attack has been roundly condemned by voices across the political spectrum.
The tensions unfold against a backdrop of increased US military activity in the region. As the US built up forces in the Caribbean to pressure Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, its forces have also conducted strikes on suspected drug boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast, further complicating the volatile security landscape.
