In a sharply worded response posted on social media, Petro declared that while he had long renounced violence, he would be prepared to defend his country if Colombia’s sovereignty were threatened.
“I swore never to touch a weapon again,” Petro wrote.
“But for the homeland, I will take up arms.”
The statement came after Trump made a series of incendiary remarks suggesting that Washington could consider military action against Bogotá.
When asked whether the United States would carry out an operation against Colombia, Trump responded, “It sounds good to me,” further intensifying diplomatic tensions.
Trump also launched personal attacks against Petro, describing him as “a sick man” and accusing him, without evidence, of involvement in cocaine production and trafficking destined for the United States.
The accusations form part of a broader narrative Trump has used to justify a more aggressive US posture toward Latin American governments he views as hostile.
The dispute follows a dramatic US operation in Venezuela days earlier, during which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown to New York to face federal charges.
The dispute follows a dramatic US operation in Venezuela days earlier, during which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown to New York to face federal charges.
The raid has sparked widespread outrage across Latin America, with several leaders warning that it represents a dangerous precedent for foreign intervention in the region.
Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president and a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement, condemned the operation as an assault on regional sovereignty.
Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president and a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement, condemned the operation as an assault on regional sovereignty.
He warned that similar actions in Colombia would trigger massive unrest and deepen instability.
In a lengthy message, Petro defended Colombia’s approach to combating narcotics, arguing that decades of militarised drug enforcement have failed and instead fueled violence, displacement, and poverty.
“If you bomb without intelligence, you will kill children,” Petro said.
In a lengthy message, Petro defended Colombia’s approach to combating narcotics, arguing that decades of militarised drug enforcement have failed and instead fueled violence, displacement, and poverty.
“If you bomb without intelligence, you will kill children,” Petro said.
“If you bomb peasants, thousands will turn into guerrillas in the mountains. And if you detain a president whom many people love and respect, you will unleash popular fury.”
Following Trump’s accusations, Washington imposed financial sanctions on Petro and members of his family and removed Colombia from the list of countries certified as allies in the US-led war on drugs. The move marked a dramatic shift in relations between the two historically close allies.
Petro has been an outspoken critic of the expanding US military presence in the Caribbean, which he says has steadily grown from targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels to seizing Venezuelan oil tankers and conducting direct raids on sovereign states.
He warned that such actions risk triggering humanitarian crises and destabilising the entire region.
Following Trump’s accusations, Washington imposed financial sanctions on Petro and members of his family and removed Colombia from the list of countries certified as allies in the US-led war on drugs. The move marked a dramatic shift in relations between the two historically close allies.
Petro has been an outspoken critic of the expanding US military presence in the Caribbean, which he says has steadily grown from targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels to seizing Venezuelan oil tankers and conducting direct raids on sovereign states.
He warned that such actions risk triggering humanitarian crises and destabilising the entire region.
According to Petro, military solutions to drug trafficking ignore the underlying economic and social drivers of the trade while placing civilians at grave risk.
The Trump administration, meanwhile, has strengthened ties with Colombia’s right-wing opposition, which is seeking electoral victories in upcoming legislative and presidential races.
The Trump administration, meanwhile, has strengthened ties with Colombia’s right-wing opposition, which is seeking electoral victories in upcoming legislative and presidential races.
Petro has accused Washington of backing political forces intent on reversing his reform agenda, particularly his push for land redistribution, peace-building, and a shift away from the US-backed “war on drugs” framework.
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