By Micah Jonah
January 10, 2026
Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his government is maintaining cooperation with the United States even as relations have been strained by insults and threats from President Donald Trump, including talk of possible military action.
Speaking in Bogotá, Petro said direct communication with Washington has helped ease tensions after days of escalating rhetoric. He confirmed that a recent phone call with Trump opened a line of dialogue that had not previously existed, allowing both sides to bypass what he described as politically charged intermediaries.
Despite the sharp exchanges, Petro stressed that Colombia remains committed towards working with the US on counter-narcotics efforts. He said he had deliberately avoided cutting ties on security cooperation, even as Trump publicly accused him of running cocaine operations, suggested military action against Colombia.
The confrontation intensified after the US military operation in Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro, after which Trump turned his attention to Colombia. Petro responded at the time by vowing to defend his country if attacked, but has since struck a more measured tone.
Petro also addressed Venezuela’s future, warning that instability there could spill across borders. He called for a negotiated political arrangement, involving all Venezuelan factions, aimed at forming a shared government, paving way for elections. According to him, a collapse into violence in neighbouring Venezuela would be disastrous for the region.
The Colombian leader has been one of the strongest regional critics of US policy in Latin America, including Washington’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza. His stance has previously led to sanctions and diplomatic retaliation from the Trump administration.
Still, Petro said dialogue remains essential, arguing that sustained engagement rather than confrontation is the only viable path to regional stability and democratic outcomes in Venezuela and beyond.
