Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a stark warning, stating there is a 'real threat' of US military action against his country. This alarming statement comes directly in response to provocative comments made by former US President Donald Trump.
Trump's Inflammatory Comments Spark Crisis
The diplomatic row escalated when Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, made severe allegations against Colombia and its leader. Trump referred to Colombia as 'very sick' and run by a 'sick man' who allegedly enjoys making and selling cocaine to the United States. He ominously added that this would not continue for long.
In a further escalation, Trump explicitly warned President Petro to 'watch his a**'. The former US president even remarked that a military operation targeting Colombia 'sounds good'. These comments followed recent US military strikes against Venezuela and the seizure of its President, Nicolás Maduro.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal and 'Empire' Accusation
In an interview with the BBC, President Gustavo Petro did not hold back in his criticism of the United States' foreign policy approach. He accused the US of treating other sovereign nations as mere components of an American 'empire'. Petro argued that this stance risks transforming the US from a global dominator into a nation 'isolated from the world'.
Petro also launched a sharp critique of Trump's immigration policies, comparing the actions of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to 'Nazi brigades'. This highlights the deepening ideological divide between the two nations' leadership.
A Tense Phone Call and Uncertain Future
Despite the public acrimony, the two leaders engaged in a phone conversation. President Petro revealed this was their first direct talk since he assumed office. The call, which lasted just under an hour, primarily covered issues of drug trafficking and the broader geopolitical situation in Latin America concerning the US.
Following the call, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to state it was a 'great honor' to speak with Petro. He mentioned that arrangements were being made for a potential meeting at the White House in Washington. However, no specific date was provided for this proposed summit.
Contrary to Trump's optimistic post-call statement, reports from the BBC suggest President Petro's tone indicated that relations remained strained and 'rather sour'. The Colombian leader made the call from a rally in Bogota celebrating national sovereignty, where he expressed his desire to restart dialogue between the two countries.
This tense episode underscores the volatile nature of US-Latin American relations and raises significant questions about the future of diplomacy in the Western Hemisphere under potential future US administrations.
