India
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has openly challenged US President Donald Trump, daring him to “come and get me” after a dramatic United States operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Petro’s remarks, delivered in a strongly worded statement on Monday, signal a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Washington and Bogotá at a time of growing regional instability.
Reacting to the US action in Venezuela, Petro warned that military intervention would have far-reaching consequences. “If they bomb, the campesinos will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains,” he said, adding that detaining a president supported by large sections of the population would “unleash the jaguar of the people.” In a striking escalation, Petro even suggested he could abandon his long-held commitment to non-violence, declaring that for the homeland, he would take up arms again.
The Colombian leader’s defiant tone drew immediate comparisons with Nicolas Maduro, who had issued a similar dare to Trump months earlier. On social media platform X, users were quick to point out the parallels, with several noting that Maduro had used almost identical language before being captured. “Maduro gave the same speech,” one user wrote, while another warned that Petro’s comments could provoke serious consequences.
The remarks also come as the White House publicly mocked Maduro following his arrest. In a video shared online, US officials referenced an earlier challenge by the Venezuelan leader, with a caption stating that Maduro “had his chance — until he didn’t.” The clip included footage from the operation targeting Maduro and comments from Trump’s press conference, where Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the same line.
Tensions between the US and Colombia have been simmering for days. Trump recently accused Petro of running a country deeply involved in drug trafficking, claiming Colombia was governed by “a sick man” exporting cocaine to the United States. He further suggested that a US operation against Colombia “sounds good,” a remark that has alarmed analysts across Latin America.
With Petro now mirroring Maduro’s defiance, fears are growing that the confrontation between Washington and Bogotá could spill into a broader regional crisis.
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