Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro conveyed to the BBC his assessment that military action from the United States represents a genuine threat. His remarks come following inflammatory statements from US President Donald Trump, who suggested military intervention in Colombia might be worthwhile. Petro expressed concern that Washington approaches other nations as territories within a broader US sphere of influence.
The Colombian leader criticized recent American immigration enforcement operations, describing ICE agents as resembling Nazi brigades in their conduct. Trump has dramatically expanded immigration enforcement activities, framing them as part of a comprehensive strategy against illegal immigration and crime. Between January and December 2025, the administration reported deporting over 605,000 individuals, with approximately 1.9 million others departing voluntarily.
Petro emphasized that escalating ICE operations now endanger US citizens themselves, citing a recent incident in Minneapolis where an immigration agent fatally shot a 37-year-old American woman. The Colombian president warned that pursuing such policies threatens to transform America from a global power into an isolated nation. He contended that empires cannot sustain themselves through isolation from the international community.
A tense phone conversation occurred Wednesday between the two leaders, initially hailed as a diplomatic turning point. However, Petro’s subsequent statements suggested tensions remained elevated. He detailed the call as lasting approximately one hour, dedicated primarily to discussing drug trafficking, Venezuela, and American policy toward Latin America. Trump announced plans for a future White House meeting but offered no public timeline.
Regarding the military threat, Petro indicated that dialogue offered his preferred defense strategy. He referenced Colombia’s historical capacity to resist larger military forces through geographic advantages and popular resistance rather than conventional weaponry, noting the country lacks adequate air defenses. He stressed that conversations would determine whether the military threat could be resolved.
Petro has pursued a peace-focused approach since assuming office, prioritizing negotiations with armed groups despite criticism that such policies have permitted cocaine production to reach record levels. He defended this strategy by noting that certain regions employing dialogue experienced both reduced coca cultivation and decreased homicide rates. He characterized his administration’s approach as combining diplomatic engagement with those amenable to peace discussions alongside military operations against groups refusing negotiations.
The Colombian president also addressed accusations from Trump that he personally engages in drug trafficking. Petro categorically denied such claims, stating his decades-long struggle against cartels forced his family into exile. He characterized his total peace strategy as deliberately designed to reduce violence while maintaining clear-eyed assessment of negotiating partners.
