Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has told the BBC that he believes there is a “real threat” of US military action against his country.
Petro said the United States treats other nations as part of a US “empire.” His comments come after former President Trump threatened Colombia with military action, warning that the US risks shifting from “dominating the world” to becoming isolated from it.”
He also accused US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of acting like “Nazi brigades.” Under Trump, ICE operations were significantly expanded as part of efforts described by the administration as cracking down on crime and undocumented immigrants.
The BBC has reached out to the White House for comment.
Following US strikes on Venezuela and the seizure of Nicolás Maduro, Trump said a military operation targeting Colombia “sounds good.” He has also repeatedly warned Petro to “watch his ass,” remarks which Petro strongly condemned.
Trump and Petro spoke by phone on Wednesday evening. Afterward, Trump said he would meet his Colombian counterpart at the White House “in the near future.” Trump also called the conversation a “Great Honour” on his Truth Social platform. A Colombian official said the call reflected a 180-degree shift in rhetoric from both sides.
However, Petro suggested relations had not significantly improved. He told the BBC that the call lasted just under an hour, with most of it occupied by him, discussing drug trafficking in Colombia, the country’s view on Venezuela, and regional issues regarding the US.
Petro strongly criticized US immigration enforcement, accusing ICE agents of operating like “Nazi brigades.” Trump has often linked immigration to crime and trafficking in the US, using this to justify large-scale enforcement operations and criticizing countries like Colombia and Venezuela for not doing enough to combat drug trafficking.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has deployed ICE agents across the country. The agency enforces immigration laws, investigates undocumented immigration, and removes undocumented immigrants. Between 20 January and 10 December 2025, the administration said it deported 605,000 people, while 1.9 million immigrants “voluntarily self-deported.”
About 65,000 people were in ICE detention as of 30 November 2025, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
This week, a US immigration agent shot dead a 37-year-old US citizen in Minneapolis, sparking protests. Federal officials said the woman, Renee Nicole Good, had tried to run over ICE agents, but the city mayor, Democrat Jacob Frey, said the agent acted recklessly and demanded ICE leave the city.
Petro said ICE had “reached the point where it no longer only persecutes Latin Americans in the streets, which is an affront, but also kills US citizens.” He added that if such actions continue, the US risks becoming “isolated from the world” rather than building an empire.
He concluded that the US has, for decades, treated other governments, particularly in Latin America, as part of an “empire” regardless of international law.
