
Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted an AI picture of a jaguar embracing a bald eagle after having a friendly conversation with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.
In a social media publication, Petro recalled that he wrote a letter to Trump that a "great American alliance can be established if South America's clean energy potential is seized," claiming that the region can satisfy the country's entire grid with clean energy.
"That is what peace and global democracy means. Using Latin America for its oil can only lead to the destruction of international law and therefore barbarity and a third world war. World peace would be at real risk and we would move towards climatic collapse and the extinction of life," Petro warned.
Entre las cosas que hablamos, el presidente Trump y yo, fue el desencuentro que tuvimos en su visión de la relación de EEUU con América Latina.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 8, 2026
Dije en mi carta escrita a Trump en el inicio de su gobierno, y a Biden personalmente que se podía establecer un alianza américana, si… pic.twitter.com/z2FSfWafdl
It is a large departure from previous rhetoric, when Petro said "he would be willing to take up arms again if necessary to defend Colombia's sovereignty, responding to what he described as threats from Trump."
Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement, said he had sworn never to carry a weapon again after the 1989 peace agreement but suggested that commitment could change. "Although I have not been a soldier, I know war and clandestinity," Petro wrote. "I swore not to touch a weapon again after the 1989 peace pact, but for the homeland I would take up arms again, even if I do not want to."
Petro framed his remarks as a response to statements made by Trump over the weekend, when the U.S. president told reporters that Colombia, like Venezuela, was "very sick" and claimed it was governed by "a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States." Asked whether the United States could carry out an operation in Colombia, Trump replied: "Sounds good to me."
Trump also posted a friendly message following the call, saying it was a "Great Honor" to speak with him. Petro, Trump, added "called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had. I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future. Arrangements are being made between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Foreign Minister of Colombia."
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