Colombia's President Warns of 'Real Threat' from US Military Action

Sat Jan 10 2026 04:05:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a revealing interview with the BBC, Colombian President Gustavo Petro warns of potential military action from the US, framing it as a serious threat to his country's sovereignty.

During an interview with the BBC, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro expressed concerns regarding possible US military action, which he deemed a 'real threat'. The alarming remarks are in response to heightened tensions following comments from former President Trump, emphasizing a perceived imperial approach by the US towards Latin America's nations. Petro condemned US immigration operations and noted the historical implications of foreign intervention on Colombia's sovereignty.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has told the BBC that he believes there is now a 'real threat' of US military action against Colombia.

Petro said the United States is treating other nations as part of a US 'empire'. It comes after Trump threatened Colombia with military action. He warned that the US risks transforming from 'dominating the world' to becoming 'isolated from the world.'

He also accused US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of acting like 'Nazi brigades'. Trump has significantly expanded ICE operations as part of what the administration says is a crackdown on crime and immigrants who illegally entered the US.

The BBC has approached the White House for comment.

Following US strikes on Venezuela and the seizure of Nicolás Maduro, US President Donald Trump said a military operation targeting Colombia 'sounds good'. Trump has also repeatedly told Petro to 'watch his ass', remarks Petro strongly condemned.

Trump and Petro spoke by phone on Wednesday evening, after which Trump said he would meet his Colombian counterpart at the White House in the 'near future.' Writing on his Truth Social platform late on Wednesday after the call, Trump described his conversation with Petro as a 'Great Honour'. A Colombian official said at the time that the conversation had reflected a 180-degree shift in rhetoric 'from both sides.'

But on Thursday, Petro's tone suggested relations had not significantly improved.

He told the BBC the call lasted just under an hour, 'most of it occupied by me,' and covered 'drug trafficking in Colombia' and Colombia's view on Venezuela and 'what is happening around Latin America regarding the United States.'

Petro criticized recent US immigration enforcement, accusing ICE agents of operating like 'Nazi brigades.'

Petro said ICE had 'reached the point where it no longer only persecutes Latin Americans in the streets, which for us is an affront, but it also kills United States citizens.'

He added that if this continued, 'instead of a United States dominating the world – an imperial dream – it is a United States isolated from the world.'

Petro further commented on the historical context, stating, 'Colombia's history shows how it has responded to large armies.' He emphasized, 'It's not about confronting a large army with weapons we don't have. We rely on the masses, our mountains, and our jungles, as we always have.'

As Colombia continues as a major player in the global drug trade, tensions between the nations signal a potentially turbulent path ahead, particularly as both leaders grapple with complex issues around sovereignty, military action, and historical grievances.