BOGOTÁ – Following the dramatic U.S. military raid on Venezuela, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a defiant warning to Washington, stating he is prepared to “take up arms” if the U.S. violates Colombia’s sovereignty.
The move marks a historic low in U.S.-Colombia relations. Petro, a former M-19 guerrilla who laid down his weapons in 1989, took to X on Monday, January 5, 2026, to signal that he would return to his militant roots to defend his “homeland.”
The “Don-roe” Doctrine vs. The “Popular Jaguar”
The tension erupted over the weekend after President Donald Trump, emboldened by the capture of Nicolás Maduro, turned his sights on Bogotá.
- Trump’s Warning: Speaking from Air Force One, Trump told reporters that Petro should “watch his ass” and described him as a “sick man who likes making cocaine.” When asked about a military strike on Colombia, Trump replied, “It sounds good to me.”
- Petro’s Retort: Petro slammed the allegations of narco-trafficking as “slander” and invoked the imagery of a Colombian national symbol. “If you detain the president… you will unleash the popular jaguar,” he warned, suggesting a mass grassroots uprising.
- Military Alert: Petro has already deployed security forces to the 1,300-mile Venezuela-Colombia border, bracing for a “massive influx of refugees” and potential U.S. border incursions.
A Robust Record or “Cocaine Factories”?
Trump’s rhetoric centers on the claim that Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine. Petro, however, defends his administration’s shift toward a “humanitarian” anti-narcotics policy.
| Metric | Petro’s 2024-25 Claims | U.S. Administration View |
| Cocaine Seizures | “World’s largest” (Record tonnage in 2025). | “Cocaine mills” are flourishing under Petro. |
| Crop Policy | Voluntary substitution for 30,000 hectares. | Accuse Petro of ending forced eradication. |
| Certifications | Claims success in destroying labs. | De-certified Colombia as a “War on Drugs” ally. |
| Sanctions | N/A | U.S. has frozen assets of Petro’s family members. |
Diplomatic Fallout: The “Don-roe” Era
Analysts are calling this the “Don-roe Doctrine”—a more aggressive, Trump-led evolution of the Monroe Doctrine.
- Visa Revocation: The U.S. State Department has already revoked Gustavo Petro’s U.S. visa.
- UN Emergency Session: Colombia, alongside Venezuela’s interim leadership, successfully requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting, which is scheduled for 10:00 AM today (Jan 5) in New York.
- Regional Polarization: While Petro threatens armed resistance, his domestic right-wing opposition is reportedly coordinating closely with Vice President JD Vance ahead of Colombia’s upcoming elections.
“To threaten our sovereignty is to declare war; do not damage two centuries of diplomatic relations.” — Gustavo Petro