Gustavo Petro makes remark after Trump threatens military action similar to Venezuela

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington but relations have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.

Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

“I swore not to touch a weapon again … but for the homeland I will take up arms again,” he said.