In an unprecedented escalation of strained relations between the United States and left-leaning Latin American countries, Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday to "take up arms again" in response to what he called threats from his American counterpart, Donald Trump . This dramatic development follows the US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to New York for trial.
A war of words and a reference to the revolutionary past
The latest spark in this tension ignited on the “X” platform, where Petro responded to direct insults from Trump. In a widely debated tweet, the Colombian president declared, “I swore never to touch a weapon again… but for the sake of the nation, I will take up arms again.” This statement carries profound implications given Petro’s background as a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement, before he laid down his arms and entered democratic politics, becoming the first leftist president in modern Colombian history.
Trump had launched a scathing attack over the weekend, describing Petro as a “sick man who enjoys making and selling cocaine to the United States,” and warning him to “be careful,” in a remark understood as a veiled threat of a fate similar to that of Maduro.
Maduro faces US court
These mutual threats come amid a political earthquake shaking the region, marked by the arrival of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife at a federal court in New York, following their arrest by US forces. Maduro is scheduled to appear in court to face charges related to terrorism and drug trafficking, with the initial hearing being procedural.
Regional repercussions and fears of the unknown
Observers believe this escalation signals a dangerous shift in the geopolitical landscape of Latin America. Colombia, which for decades was Washington's primary strategic ally in the region, now finds itself on a collision course with the US administration. The threat of armed conflict by a head of state against the leader of a superpower reflects the deep chasm and lack of trust, and raises serious questions about the future of security and economic cooperation in the continent, especially since the arrest of the president of a sovereign state (Venezuela) could push leftist regimes in the region to form a more assertive defensive bloc against US policies.
