President Gustavo Petro has called for nationwide protests on Wednesday, Jan. 7, urging citizens to take to the streets in defense of national sovereignty following recent threats of military intervention and personal insults from United States President Donald Trump.
The Colombian leader is scheduled to address a mass gathering at 4:00 p.m. in Bogota’s Plaza de Bolivar, with simultaneous demonstrations planned in public squares across the country. As a symbol of national unity, the presidency has requested that citizens raise the Colombian flag throughout the day.
This call to action follows remarks by Trump, who recently suggested that a military operation in Colombia similar to the weekend raid in Venezuela “sounds good” to him and characterized Petro as a “sick man.”
Petro instructed Rosa Villavicencio to present a verbal note to protest US aggression
The Petro administration has moved quickly to counter Washington’s rhetoric through multiple diplomatic channels. Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio announced Tuesday that she has presented a formal note of protest to the U.S. government, describing Trump’s statements as an “offense” against the Colombian people and a total disregard for the nation’s democratic institutions.
While the Foreign Ministry confirmed that a contingency plan is in place to strengthen border security, Villavicencio stated that Colombia is not yet recalling its ambassador from Washington and remains open to dialogue with both Republican and Democratic officials.
Iza ya la bandera de Colombia en tu casa. El miercoles nos vemos en todas las plazas de Colombia, a las 4 pm.
Ahora a defender la soberanía nacional. pic.twitter.com/TsRh5XO1ad
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 6, 2026
Social and labor organizations, including the Central Union of Workers (CUT), have signaled their active participation in Wednesday’s protests. Union leaders described the scheduled demonstrations as a necessary rejection of what they termed “vile and barbaric” imperialist aggression.
The mobilization is intended to amplify a growing international condemnation of U.S. military policy in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly following the Jan. 3 capture of Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.
Colombia demanded emergency sessions at the UN Security Council and OAS
On the international stage, Colombia has demanded emergency sessions at the United Nations Security Council and the Organization of American States (OAS). During these meetings, Colombian diplomats argued that the recent U.S. operation in Venezuela violates the U.S. Charter and threatens to dismantle the region’s status as a “zone of peace.”
Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs Mauricio Jaramillo reiterated that Colombia categorically rejects the use of force or defamatory statements against its head of state, while emphasizing that regional conflicts must be resolved through democratic dialogue rather than external aggression.
Los espero a las cuatro de la tarde en todas las plazas públicas del país. A acompañar al presidente para defender la soberanía nacional. pic.twitter.com/3DpDbHKnvM
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 7, 2026
Petro has utilized social media to maintain a defiant posture, asserting that he will “take up arms again” if necessary to defend the country from a foreign invasion. He has repeatedly called for Latin American integration, warning that the region must unite to avoid being treated as “servants and slaves” by global powers. In a joint statement with Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Spain, the Colombian government condemned the unilateral military actions in Venezuela as a violation of fundamental international law.
As Colombia enters a state of high vigilance, the president emphasized his confidence in the Colombian people to protect the presidency from any illegitimate acts of violence. The Jan. 7 mobilization marks the first time Petro will address the public in person since the escalation of tensions with the White House, a moment his supporters describe as critical for defining the future of Colombian sovereignty.
Related: Social Mobilization: The 12 Marches Called by Colombia’s Petro During His Presidency.