‘A Real Threat’: Colombia’s President warns of possible U.S. Military action as tensions with Trump escalate

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has warned that there is now a “real threat” of U.S. military action against Colombia, escalating fears of a deepening diplomatic crisis between Bogotá and Washington. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Petro said recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump — including suggestions that a military operation against Colombia “sounds good” — should be taken seriously. Petro accused the United States of treating Latin America as part of an imperial sphere of influence, warning that such an approach risks turning Washington from a global power int

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has warned that there is now a “real threat” of U.S. military action against Colombia, escalating fears of a deepening diplomatic crisis between Bogotá and Washington. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Petro said recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump — including suggestions that a military operation against Colombia “sounds good” — should be taken seriously. Petro accused the United States of treating Latin America as part of an imperial sphere of influence, warning that such an approach risks turning Washington from a global power into an isolated nation. Tensions have risen sharply following U.S. military action in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Petro said Trump has repeatedly threatened him personally, remarks he strongly condemned. Although the two leaders held a phone call this week — described by Trump as a “great honour” — Petro said relations have not meaningfully improved, despite claims from officials of a rhetorical reset. The Colombian leader also delivered a fierce critique of U.S. immigration enforcement, accusing ICE agents of acting like “Nazi brigades.” He cited mass deportations, growing detention numbers, and the recent killing of a U.S. citizen during an ICE operation in Minneapolis as evidence of what he called a dangerous escalation. Petro warned that such actions undermine U.S. moral authority and fuel global backlash. Asked how Colombia would respond to a potential U.S. attack, Petro stressed that his preference is dialogue, not confrontation. However, he invoked Colombia’s history of resisting powerful armies, saying the country would rely on its people, terrain, and collective resistance rather than military hardware it does not possess. The dispute has triggered protests across Colombia in defense of sovereignty. Petro also rejected Trump’s accusations linking him to drug trafficking, insisting he has spent decades fighting cartels and pursuing a controversial “total peace” strategy that combines negotiations with military pressure. As the world’s largest cocaine producer and a country rich in oil and minerals, Colombia now finds itself at the center of a volatile regional standoff with global implications.