Building on heightened US-Colombia frictions after the January 3, 2026, US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro—which prompted border troop deployments and drug trafficking accusations against President Gustavo Petro—Petro called for nationwide rallies on January 7 to defend sovereignty amid Donald Trump's suggestions of military intervention. Unions have endorsed the mobilizations, while Colombia pursues diplomatic protests.
The tensions stem from the US 'Iron Resolve' operation capturing Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, after which Trump accused Petro's government of producing and shipping cocaine to the US, warning of consequences and later stating Colombia is 'very sick' under a leader who 'likes to produce cocaine.' Colombia responded initially by deploying 11,000 troops along the 2,200 km border to manage potential refugee flows and threats.
On January 6, Petro escalated via X, urging Colombians to raise flags and gather in public squares at 4 p.m. on January 7: 'Iza ya la bandera de Colombia en tu casa. El miércoles nos vemos en todas las plazas de Colombia, a las 4 p. m. Ahora a defender la soberanía nacional.' He plans to speak from Bogotá's Plaza de Bolívar, dismissing Trump's claims as 'calumnious and threatening' from a 'senile' mind tied to energy policy disputes.
The Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) supports the call, with president Fabio Arias stating: 'Hagamos presencia para defender la soberanía y la democracia en Colombia frente a los anuncios de invasión militar.'
Diplomatically, Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia will meet US chargé d'affaires John McNamara with a protest note signed by Ambassador Daniel García-Peña to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, rejecting 'disrespectful terms' and noting over 2,512 tons of cocaine seized since 2022. Colombia co-led an OAS extraordinary session with Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, and Uruguay, condemning threats to sovereignty as incompatible with international law, per Vice Minister Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir.
These steps address border stability, migrant concerns from Venezuela's 2.8 million Colombian residents, and risks of further instability versus potential economic benefits from regional stabilization.
