Colombian President Gustavo Petro has vowed that he would “take up arms” for his nation if necessary, in response to threats from the United States directed at him and his administration.
In a social media update on Monday, Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, warned that any violent US intervention in Colombia, similar to the recent actions in Venezuela, would elicit a strong reaction.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t pick up a weapon again,” Petro remarked. “But for my homeland, I would take up arms once more.”
Petro has become a vocal opponent of US President Donald Trump, who has issued threats of potential military action against Colombia in the name of fighting drug trafficking.
The two leaders have exchanged insults frequently, but Trump’s threats have escalated in severity recently.
Over the weekend, Trump warned Petro to “watch his back” following the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, an action widely deemed illegal by international law experts.
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Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump expressed that a similar operation against Petro’s government “sounds good to me.”
“Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man who enjoys making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he won’t be doing it for much longer,” Trump stated.
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Trump’s remarks as “an inappropriate interference in the internal affairs of the country, violating international law.”
Trump has accused Petro of enabling drug trafficking to the US, a claim that lacks evidence and is strongly denied by Petro, who asserts that his administration has been actively working to reduce drug production while moving away from a militarized approach to the war on drugs.
“I have great faith in my people,” Petro declared. “That is why I have urged them to defend the president from any illegitimate violent actions against him.”
Trump has threatened Colombia’s president, claiming Cuba is “ready to fall.”
