Colombia’s FIRST reaction to Donald Trump’s military action threat after US strikes on Venezuela, President Gustavo Petro says….
Petro said his concerns stemmed from what he described as increasing militarization in the region, especially following US action in Venezuela. He pointed to images of helicopters and missiles and warned that Colombia would be dangerously exposed if tensions escalate.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he was afraid, days after US President Donald Trump threatened the country with military action over alleged drug trafficking. He also issued a warning to the United States ahead of his meeting with the US President in early February that any attack on Colombia would almost certainly trigger civil war and fuel hostilities.
Colombian President rejects US threat of military action
“I won’t say I’m not afraid,” said Petro. “This would undoubtedly cause a civil war and also animosity towards the United States that the United States does not deserve. It would be a foolish policy,” he told CBS. The response came after US forces overthrew President Nicolás Maduro in neighboring Venezuela. Trump has since signaled an aggressive approach against drug trafficking networks, while also moving to gain control over Venezuela’s oil exports and stimulate production through US-backed investment.
Petro said his concerns stemmed from what he described as increasing militarization in the region, especially following US action in Venezuela. He pointed to images of helicopters and missiles and warned that Colombia, which lacks an air-defense system, would be dangerously exposed if tensions escalated further. Trump invited his Colombian counterpart to the White House on Wednesday, just days after threatening military action over alleged drug trafficking. On January 3, Trump warned Petro to “watch himself.”
USA threatened Colombia
Trump sparked controversy after making sharp and unprecedented remarks about Colombia during a brief call with reporters. The remarks, made without elaboration or policy specifics, raised concerns about the tone and direction of U.S. rhetoric toward one of its longtime allies in Latin America. During the call, Trump claimed Colombia was “run by a sick man” and added that its current leadership “won’t be handling this for very long.” When a reporter asked if this indicated a potential U.S. operation in Colombia, Trump replied, “Sounds good.” This comment, although brief, fueled speculation about possible intervention and led to widespread criticism. Colombia has historically been a close partner of the United States, particularly in areas such as counternarcotics operations, regional security, and economic cooperation.
(With inputs from ANI)
