Tensions between the United States and Colombia escalated after US President Donald Trump issued a direct warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Trump described Petro as “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States” and suggested military action, stating, “It sounds good to me,” when asked about a potential operation.

The threats came shortly after a US operation in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and their transport to New York to face federal charges. Trump has repeatedly accused Petro of involvement in drug trafficking, although no evidence has been presented. In response, the United States imposed financial sanctions on Petro and his family and removed Colombia from the list of countries certified as allies in the US war on drugs.

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In a statement, Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president and a former member of the M-19 guerrilla group, said he would defend the homeland even if it meant taking up arms again. “I swore not to touch a weapon again... but for the homeland I will take up arms again,” Petro wrote.

Petro also highlighted the risks of excessive military action, warning that attacks without sufficient intelligence could harm civilians and escalate conflict. “If you bomb even one of these groups without sufficient intelligence, you will kill many children. If you bomb peasants, thousands will turn into guerrillas in the mountains,” he stated.

The Colombian leader condemned the US operation in Venezuela, describing it as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America and cautioning that such interventions could trigger humanitarian crises. Petro has been a consistent critic of growing US military presence in the Caribbean, which began with operations against alleged drug traffickers and escalated to the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers.

US ties with Colombia’s right-wing opposition remain strong, with the administration backing parties hoping to secure victories in upcoming legislative and presidential elections.