Colombian President Petro challenges US President Trump after a military operation in Venezuela, warning of guerrilla uprisings and serious consequences if escalation continues.
After US President Donald Trump threatened military action against Colombia’s government following a raid in Venezuela, President Gustavo Petro dared him to “come get me.”
The Colombian President has strongly condemned the US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of its leader Nicolas Maduro. In a statement, Petro challenged Trump, saying, “Come get me. I’m waiting for you here.”
Petro warned of serious consequences if the US escalates the matter further, saying, “If they [the US] bombs, the campesinos will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people.”
A video showing Petro daring Trump has surfaced on social media.
‘Will Take Up Arms Again’: Petro After Trump’s Threat
Petro, who was a leftist guerrilla before demobilising in the 1990s, also declared, “I swore not to touch a weapon again … but for the homeland I will take up arms again.”
Tensions between the two countries have soared following the US action in Venezuela. Addressing reporters on Sunday, a day after Caracus raid, Trump claimed that Colombia is run by a “sick man” who is “selling drugs to the US.”
“Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you,” Trump said. He also stated that launching an operation against Colombia “sounds good” to him.
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry Issues Statement
In response, the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying the nation will “maintain international relations based on dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect,” noting that it “considers threats or the use of force in relations between States unacceptable.”
Earlier in October, Trump had sanctioned Petro and members of his family over alleged ties to the illegal drug trade. Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, with coca cultivation concentrated mainly in Peru, Bolivia and Colombia.
Maduro’s Dare To Trump In Fiery August Speech
Previously in August, Maduro had issued a similar challenge to Trump, daring him to “come and get him.” “Come get me. I will wait for him here in Miraflores. Don’t be late, coward,” Maduro said in a fiery speech after the US increased the reward for information leading to his arrest.
