Colombia President Signals WAR

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a former M-19 guerrilla fighter, declared he would “take up arms again” to defend his homeland after Trump accused him of cocaine trafficking and imposed sanctions on his family.

Story Highlights

Petro vows armed resistance following Trump’s threats and baseless drug trafficking accusations
Crisis erupts after successful US Delta Force raid captures Venezuelan dictator Maduro
Trump removes Colombia from anti-drug ally list, sanctions Petro’s family members
Ex-guerrilla president warns US military actions could spawn new insurgent movements

Former Guerrilla Fighter Issues Stark Warning to Washington

President Trump’s aggressive approach toward Latin American leftist leaders reached a boiling point when Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced his readiness to resume armed resistance. The former M-19 urban guerrilla, who disarmed through a 1989 peace accord, posted on X that he would break his oath never to touch weapons again if necessary to defend Colombia’s sovereignty. Petro’s declaration came after Trump branded him “a sick man who likes making cocaine” and suggested military intervention “sounds appealing.”

Trump’s accusations against Petro lack supporting evidence, yet align with his broader revival of aggressive anti-drug policies targeting leftist governments. The president removed Colombia from the US anti-drug ally list and imposed sanctions on Petro’s family members following the Colombian leader’s criticism of American military overreach. This heavy-handed approach undermines decades of US-Colombian cooperation in combating narcotics trafficking, potentially driving a key regional partner toward adversarial nations like China and Russia.

Trump’s Venezuelan Success Emboldens Regional Strategy

The crisis escalated following Trump’s stunning military victory in Venezuela, where US Delta Force commandos successfully captured dictator Nicolás Maduro during a weekend raid in Caracas. The operation, involving warplanes and naval support, resulted in 32 Cuban deaths and several American casualties while achieving what previous administrations deemed impossible. Maduro now faces drug trafficking charges in New York federal court, where he pleaded not guilty and claimed he remains Venezuela’s legitimate president.

Trump’s decisive action against the Venezuelan regime demonstrates his commitment to confronting socialist authoritarianism in America’s backyard. The operation secured Venezuelan oil assets for eventual reconstruction under US oversight, removing a major revenue source for regional anti-American activities. However, the success has emboldened Trump to expand pressure on other leftist leaders, including Colombia’s Petro, who faces elections in 2026 amid growing opposition from pro-American conservative forces.

Constitutional Concerns Over Executive Overreach

Trump’s threats against a democratically elected Colombian president raise serious questions about executive authority and constitutional limits on presidential power. While Americans support strong anti-drug enforcement, threatening military action against allied nations without congressional authorization violates fundamental principles of constitutional governance. Petro’s warning that US bombings could radicalize peasant populations into new guerrilla movements reflects legitimate concerns about blowback from excessive military intervention.

NEW: Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated he is ready to take up arms if necessary to defend his country, following threats from the United States amid U.S. military actions in neighboring Venezuela.

“Although I have not been a military man, I know about war and… pic.twitter.com/0Zdkg6SGWK

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) January 6, 2026

Conservative Americans who value limited government and constitutional restraints should be wary of unchecked presidential war powers, even when directed against leftist adversaries. The success in Venezuela demonstrates Trump’s effectiveness against genuine threats like Maduro’s criminal regime, but extending such tactics to Colombia’s flawed but legitimate government risks undermining American credibility and constitutional principles that conservatives have long defended against Democratic overreach.