Colombia's Petro warns Trump: 'Do not threaten our sovereignty'
Colombian President Gustavo Petro invites Donald Trump to visit Colombia and witness the destruction of cocaine labs, rejecting threats and warning against violating Colombian sovereignty.
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Colombia's President Gustavo Petro gives a statement during a forum on democracy and multilateralism at La Moneda palace in Santiago, Chile, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has invited US President Donald Trump to visit Colombia and observe the country’s efforts in dismantling cocaine laboratories, following recent remarks by Trump that threatened Colombia over its role in cocaine production.
In a post on X, Petro said his government had “destroyed 18,400 laboratories without the use of missiles,” extending a direct invitation to Trump: “Come with me, and I’ll teach you how they are destroyed.”
The Colombian leader sharply criticized Trump’s tone and warned him to "not threaten our sovereignty, because you will awaken the tiger... Attacking our sovereignty is a declaration of war. Do not ruin two centuries of diplomatic relations.”
Petro also accused Trump of defamation, stating that the US president “has already slandered” him, and urged him “not to continue down this path.”
Highlighting Colombia’s role in the global fight against cocaine trafficking, Petro added, “If there is a country that has helped stop thousands of tons of cocaine from being consumed by North Americans, it is Colombia.”
Colombia calls for unity in Latin America
Similarly, the Colombian Foreign Ministry has expressed deep concern over Trump's recent remarks.
In an official statement, Bogotá emphasized that Colombia rejects any external threat that could undermine the dignity of the Colombian people or violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
The Foreign Ministry further stressed that Colombia calls for the strengthening of brotherhood among Latin American nations, urging unity among sister countries in the face of any form of foreign intervention.
The remarks came in response to Trump’s recent statements, in which he claimed Colombia could be a target for attacks because of alleged cocaine production.
US military presence in Caribbean aims to isolate region: Colombia FM
However, Colombia has repeatedly warned that the United States is seeking to impose its control on Latin America under the pretext of waging the so-called "war on drugs".
On November 29, Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio sharply criticized the increasing US military Caribbean presence, warning that it is designed not to fight drug trafficking, but to isolate Latin America economically and politically.
“This military presence is a pretext that ultimately aims to isolate the region, which affects trade, and now, coupled with airspace threats, leads to a certain economic deterioration in the region,” Villavicencio said in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Saturday.
Villavicencio slammed the US presence in the region as both “excessive” and “unnecessary,” warning that Washington’s actions have created economic consequences for Caribbean and Latin American countries. The foreign minister linked the escalation to broader strategic goals tied to US-Colombia relations and its influence across the hemisphere.
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