Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro on Sunday rejected threats and “drug trafficking” accusations by his US counterpart Donald Trump, warning against foreign interference in Colombia’s sovereignty.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump threatened to use military action against Colombia, after launching a similar move in Venezuela on Saturday, capturing its president and the first lady, who were later flown to New York.
Petro rebuffed Trump’s accusations saying his “name does not appear in court records.”
“Stop slandering me, Mr. Trump,” Petro said on the social media platform X.
“That’s not how you threaten a Latin American president who emerged from the armed struggle and then from the people of Colombia’s fight for Peace.”
Petro has condemned the Trump administration’s military action in the region and accused Washington of abducting Maduro “without legal basis.”
In a later post to X on Sunday Petro added “friends do not bomb.”
Colombia’s foreign ministry called the US president’s threats “unacceptable interference” and demanded “respect.”
Petro concluded his remarks by urging Colombians to defend democratic institutions against “illegitimate violence” and reaffirmed his confidence in the people, the armed forces, and Colombia’s history.
“So know that you are facing a commander of the people,” Petro said. “Colombia free forever.”
