Colombian President Gustavo Petro told the BBC that he believes there is a "real threat" of U.S. military action against Colombia. In an interview, Petro stated that the United States is treating other nations as part of a U.S. "empire," a sentiment that follows previous threats made by former President Donald Trump.
Petro accused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of acting like "Nazi brigades," referencing the expansion of ICE operations under the Trump administration, which the administration justified as a crackdown on crime and illegal immigration.
The remarks come after Trump, following U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the seizure of Nicolás Maduro, reportedly said a military operation targeting Colombia "sounds good." Trump had also repeatedly told Petro to "watch his ass," comments Petro strongly condemned.
The BBC has reached out to the White House for comment on Petro's statements.
The relationship between the U.S. and Colombia has seen fluctuations in recent years. While Colombia has historically been a key ally of the United States in the region, particularly in counter-narcotics efforts, Petro's left-leaning government has at times diverged from U.S. foreign policy objectives. The United States has provided significant military and financial aid to Colombia over the past several decades, aimed at combating drug trafficking and supporting security initiatives.
Trump and Petro spoke by phone on Wednesday evening, after which Trump said he wo
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