Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a dramatic warning amid rising friction with the Trump administration, declaring that he is prepared to “take up arms” if US President Donald Trump follows through on threats against Colombia.
Petro, a former guerrilla turned leftist leader, said on X (formerly Twitter), “I swore never to touch a weapon again… but for the homeland, I will take up arms again,” AFP reported. His statement comes days after Trump launched a regime-change military strike in neighbouring Venezuela and issued aggressive remarks towards Colombia’s first-ever leftist President.
Trump’s Harsh Remarks Escalate Tension
Trump recently lashed out at Petro, saying the Colombian leader should “watch his ass” and called him “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”
This rhetoric mirrors years of Trump’s allegations of narco-terrorism against Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, whom US forces claimed to have “captured” during their latest offensive.
Petro Defends Record, Accuses US Of Misrepresentation
Petro hit back strongly, highlighting his administration’s anti-narcotics achievements including:
- Largest-ever cocaine seizure
- Reduction in coca cultivation
- Voluntary crop substitution covering 30,000 hectares
- Operations targeting major trafficking networks
He also criticised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that he misrepresented Colombia’s constitutional structure. Petro emphasized that the Colombian President is constitutionally the Supreme Commander of the military and police.
Background Of Long-Running Feud
Petro, once part of the M-19 guerrilla movement which disarmed in 1989, has had a hostile relationship with Trump since his return to the White House in January 2025.
Trump has accused Petro of drug trafficking without evidence, imposed financial sanctions on him and his family, and removed Colombia from Washington’s list of allies in the war on drugs.
Petro also condemned the expanding US military presence in the Caribbean, which began with targeting alleged drug boats and escalated to seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers, culminating in the raid on Caracas.
Warning of social unrest if Washington tries to remove him, Petro said:
“If you detain the president, whom a good part of my people love and respect, you will unleash the popular jaguar.”
Political Stakes In Colombia
Meanwhile, the Trump administration maintains close ties with Colombia’s right-wing opposition, which hopes to regain power in legislative and presidential elections later this year. The political environment remains tense, with deep divisions and increasing uncertainty over Colombia-US relations.