Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the United States will continue to pursue military conflicts abroad as long as its economy remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, arguing that oil and coal shape Washington‘s foreign policy decisions in Latin America and beyond.
“As long as the U.S. economy is based on oil and coal, 70% of its energy matrix, it will tend to seek wars for both resources,” Petro said in an interview with BBC Mundo, referring to what he described as a structural link between energy dependence and U.S. military action. He added that Venezuela exemplified that dynamic, saying the country’s vast oil reserves sit at the center of Washington’s pressure campaign.
Petro’s comments come after a period of sharp escalation with U.S. President Donald Trump, who in recent weeks accused Colombia of fueling drug trafficking and said a U.S. military incursion into the country “sounds good.” Trump also warned Petro to “watch his ass” and suggested Colombia hosted cocaine laboratories, allegations Petro has denied.
Tensions eased this week after the two leaders held a 55-minute phone call and agreed to meet in person. Trump said it was an “honor” to speak with Petro, while the Colombian president described the conversation as positive and said it helped freeze what he viewed as a real threat of U.S. military action. Petro said the call addressed narcotics policy and Venezuela, as well as broader U.S.-Latin America relations.
Despite the thaw, Petro said he remains concerned about Washington’s posture in the region, particularly following the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. He told BBC Mundo that the threat of force could be withdrawn through dialogue but warned that history showed Colombia had previously lost territory after U.S. military pressure.
Petro has repeatedly linked U.S. actions toward Venezuela to energy interests. In a CNN interview in November, he said oil was “at the heart of the matter,” arguing that Washington’s focus was not democratization or drug trafficking but access to energy resources. He has also urged the United States to shift toward clean energy, saying adherence to the Paris climate accords would reduce conflict and strengthen global democracy.
While Petro said Colombia continues to cooperate with the United States on counter-narcotics efforts, he framed the current moment as a test of whether Washington chooses dialogue and energy transition over military force.
Originally published on Latin Times
