Trump says Colombia could be next, then its president vows to take up arms

Tensions between the United States and Colombia escalated after President Donald Trump suggested the South American nation could face U.S. military action, prompting an unusually direct response from Colombia’s president. The comments drew even more attention after coverage by UNILAD, which detailed the exchange between the two leaders.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described Colombia as “very sick” and accused President Gustavo Petro of being involved in cocaine production and trafficking. He referred to Petro as “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” remarks that quickly circulated internationally.

When asked whether Colombia could face the same kind of military action the U.S. had just carried out in neighboring Venezuela, Trump said the idea “sounds good to me.” He later added a warning directed at Petro, telling him to “watch his ass.” The comments followed other recent statements from Trump about expanding U.S. involvement in the region, including claims that Venezuela’s crisis could justify further intervention.

This escalated far faster than anyone expected

Petro responded the following day with a message referencing his past as a member of the left-wing M-19 guerrilla movement, which disarmed after a peace agreement in 1989. He said he had sworn never to touch a weapon again but would do so “for the homeland” if Colombia were attacked.

Petro, who became Colombia’s first left-wing president after his election in 2022, denied Trump’s allegations of drug trafficking. He said Trump was speaking “without knowledge” and warned that U.S. military action would lead to civilian deaths and renewed insurgency. Petro argued that bombing rural areas without precise intelligence would kill children and drive thousands of guerrillas back into the mountains.

To counter the accusations, Petro pointed to his administration’s record against organized crime, including the seizure of 14 tonnes of cocaine in a single operation, which he said was the largest in history. He also cited military actions against armed groups involved in the drug trade, including the Gulf Clan, the National Liberation Army, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Petro also addressed claims about his personal integrity, stating that he is neither illegitimate nor a narcotics trafficker. He said his assets consist only of his family home, which he continues to pay for with his salary, and that his bank statements have been published and show no unexplained wealth.

In his final warning, Petro said that arresting or removing a president supported by much of the population would “unleash the popular jaguar.” The exchange comes as concerns continue over escalating rhetoric and the possibility of further confrontation in the region.