Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a stark warning that he is prepared to "take up arms" in response to escalating threats from United States President Donald Trump. The dramatic statement, made on January 5, 2026, marks a severe deterioration in relations between Bogotá and Washington.
From Words to Weapons: A Former Guerrilla's Defiance
The confrontation follows a military strike ordered by President Trump over the previous weekend. The operation in Caracas, Venezuela, resulted in the seizure of that nation's leader, Nicolas Maduro. In reaction to this event and subsequent personal attacks, President Petro took to the social media platform X to declare his stance.
Petro, who is Colombia's first leftist president and a former member of the M-19 urban guerrilla group, wrote: "I swore not to touch a weapon again… but for the homeland I will take up arms again." This pledge directly references his past, which critics have often used to challenge his leadership.
Trump escalated the war of words by warning Petro to "watch his a ss" and crudely labelling him as "a sick man who likes making co caine and selling it to the United States." These remarks are part of a series of personal attacks directed at Petro since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
Background of a Broader Regional Conflict
The tension did not emerge overnight. The United States has been expanding its military footprint in the Caribbean region, beginning with the destruction of vessels suspected of drug trafficking. This presence grew to include the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers and culminated in the January 3 raid on Caracas that captured President Maduro.
In a significant diplomatic snub, the Trump administration has also removed Colombia from its list of certified allies in the global war on drugs. This move aligns Washington more closely with Colombia's right-wing political opposition, which is gearing up for the country's 2026 legislative and presidential elections.
Petro Defends Strategy and Warns of Consequences
In a lengthy social media post, President Petro defended his government's approach to combating narcotics but issued a grave warning against heavy-handed military tactics. He argued that bombing suspected groups without precise intelligence would result in the deaths of many children.
He further cautioned that targeting peasants would drive thousands to join guerrilla forces in the mountains. Most pointedly, regarding the capture of Maduro, Petro stated: "And if you detain the president, whom a good part of my people love and respect, you will unleash the popular jaguar."
Political analysts observing the situation warn that the growing hostility between Petro and Trump could fundamentally reshape Colombia's political landscape and deepen existing divisions across the Latin American region. The clash pits a progressive, former insurgent leader against a US president known for his confrontational foreign policy, setting the stage for continued instability.
