Colombian President Gustavo Petro has warned that South America would rally to Mexico's defense if the United States launches military strikes against drug cartels on Mexican soil, invoking the legacy of independence hero Simón Bolívar to underscore regional resistance.
Speaking at a press conference in Bogotá, Petro cautioned U.S. leaders, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, against such incursions.
"Be careful. You're entering Bolívar's land, where peasant armies defeated Spanish and French forces," he said, framing the pledge as a stand against "imperialism" in the escalating U.S. "war on drugs."
The illegal drug trade—especially cocaine—remains a significant but unofficial part of Colombia’s economy. Despite decades of eradication and U.S.-backed counter-narcotics efforts, Colombia continues to produce roughly 60% of the world’s cocaine, according to the UNODC.
The trade generates billions annually, sustaining rural livelihoods where legal crops yield little profit. While not part of official GDP figures, illicit coca cultivation and trafficking influence foreign exchange flows, corruption, violence, and rural inequality. Economists estimate that, at its peak, cocaine revenues equaled 2–3% of Colombia’s GDP.
The remarks, reported by Reuters and Al Jazeera, come amid frayed U.S.-Colombia ties following American airstrikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean since September, which have killed at least 37 people, including Colombians.
Petro has decried these as "extrajudicial executions," while Trump has sanctioned Petro for alleged drug complicity, per The New York Times and The Guardian.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum echoed calls for sovereignty, warning of "continental resistance." Analysts say the vow signals diplomatic posturing, given economic dependencies, but risks further straining alliances as U.S. operations near Mexican waters.
