“Come Get Me, I’m Waiting” — Colombia President Gustavo Petro Dares Trump After US Capture of Maduro

Washington: Tensions across Latin America escalated sharply after Colombian President Gustavo Petro issued a defiant challenge to former US President Donald Trump, days after Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was captured in a US military operation. Petro’s remarks have added fuel to an already volatile geopolitical situation in the region.

Responding to what he described as growing threats and provocations from Washington, Petro warned that any military action against Colombia or its leadership would have serious consequences. “If they bomb, the campesinos will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains,” Petro said, cautioning that detaining a democratically elected leader could trigger mass resistance. He added that such actions would unleash what he called the “jaguar of the people.”

Petro, who was once part of a leftist guerrilla movement before laying down arms in the 1990s, said he had long rejected violence but would reconsider if national sovereignty were threatened. “I swore never to take up weapons again, but for the homeland, I will,” he declared, underscoring the gravity of the moment.

The Colombian president’s comments followed sharp remarks by Trump, who accused Petro of presiding over a narco-state and alleged that Colombia’s leadership was complicit in drug trafficking to the United States. Trump claimed that Petro’s time in power would be short, escalating the war of words between the two leaders.

Petro rejected the accusations outright, saying Colombia would not tolerate foreign interference or covert actions. “I don’t accept invasions, missiles, or assassinations — only intelligence,” he said, calling instead for direct dialogue. “Come speak here with intelligence. Let’s talk face-to-face with facts, not lies.”

Relations between Petro and Trump have been strained for months. In October 2025, Trump imposed sanctions on Petro and several members of his family, alleging links to the illegal drug trade — charges the Colombian government has consistently denied.

Earlier on Sunday, the White House released a video montage showing Maduro’s earlier defiance toward the US, followed by visuals of the operation that led to his capture alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. The footage has circulated widely, intensifying political reactions across the region.