Wayne Lumbasi
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a stark warning that his country will resist any foreign military aggression, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that suggested Colombia could face military pressure after Washington’s recent operation in Venezuela.
Speaking through a series of messages on social media, Petro said Colombia would defend its sovereignty at all costs, declaring that he was prepared to return to armed struggle if the nation were attacked. The president, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement who laid down his weapons decades ago under a peace accord, said his commitment to peace did not extend to surrendering Colombia’s independence.
Tensions escalated after Trump, reacting to the U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuela’s leader Nicolàs Maduro, made comments interpreted as a warning to Colombia. Trump accused Petro of tolerating drug trafficking and suggested Colombia could become the next focus of U.S. action in the region. The Colombian leader strongly rejected the accusations, describing them as unfounded and dangerous.
Petro emphasized that Colombia’s armed forces exist to protect the nation and its people, not to serve foreign interests. He warned that any external attack would be met with resistance and urged military officers to remain loyal to the Colombian flag. He also stressed that civilians must never be targeted, framing any resistance as a defense of national dignity rather than an internal conflict.
The remarks have sent shockwaves across Latin America, where memories of past U.S. interventions remain deeply rooted. Petro called on regional governments to strengthen unity, arguing that collective resolve was necessary to prevent external domination and preserve sovereignty across the continent.
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