Colombian President Gustavo Petro and US President Donald Trump have agreed to launch joint operations against guerrilla groups involved in cocaine trafficking along the Venezuela border. Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti confirmed the agreement on Thursday, following the first phone conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday. The discussion aimed to ease tensions after Trump’s military threats and efforts to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

According to Benedetti, both leaders committed to taking coordinated action against the National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia’s remaining major armed rebel group, which Bogotá accuses of seeking refuge in Venezuela after attacks and kidnappings. Petro reportedly asked Trump for cooperation in taking tougher measures along the 2,200-kilometer border, where multiple armed groups compete over drug trafficking, illegal mining, and smuggling routes.

The report noted that despite recent tensions—Trump having labeled Petro a drug trafficker—Petro accepted an invitation to meet Trump in Washington. The two countries have long maintained security cooperation, though relations have cooled since the start of Trump’s second term.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that national security forces are being deployed along the border with Venezuela following recent incidents. In a post on social media platform X, he said Colombia is ready to provide all forms of assistance to potential Venezuelan refugees. The decision was made after an emergency National Security Council meeting that began at 3 a.m. local time (08:00 GMT).

Petro stated that Colombia is preparing its full humanitarian and support capacity to handle any large influx of refugees. He also confirmed that the Colombian embassy in Venezuela remains active and is assisting Colombian citizens residing there. As a member of the United Nations Security Council, Colombia has initiated contact with partner countries to support a possible council meeting on the issue.

Petro emphasized that the Colombian government rejects any aggression against Venezuela’s sovereignty or against Latin America, underscoring a stance of regional solidarity amid rising border concerns.

At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured when a school bus carrying students and adults fell into an 80-meter-deep ravine in northern Colombia’s Antioquia region. The bus was returning from a graduation trip to the Caribbean town of Tolú and was en route to Medellín when the accident occurred early Sunday morning near El Chispero, on the Remedios–Zaragoza road.

Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián confirmed the tragedy on social media, describing it as a devastating loss for the community during the holiday season. The victims included students from Liceo Antioqueño High School and the driver, Jonathan Taborda Cocacolo, who worked for the tourism company Preculture. Local authorities said the injured, aged between 16 and 27, were taken to hospitals in Segovia and Remedios.

Officials stated that the trip was privately organized by students, not a school-sponsored event. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, while local leaders and the tourism network have expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the affected community.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, saying that failure to take stronger action against the cocaine trade could lead to serious consequences. Speaking at a White House meeting with business leaders, Trump accused Colombia of producing large quantities of cocaine that end up in the United States, urging Petro to act decisively.

The warning comes amid ongoing tensions between the two leaders, who have clashed over drug policy, migration, and trade. Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, responded by asserting that his government has already destroyed around 18,400 drug laboratories and cautioned that any interference with Colombia’s sovereignty would amount to a declaration of war. He also invited Trump to visit Colombia and witness anti-narcotics operations firsthand.

The dispute adds to broader regional friction, as Petro has criticized U.S. naval actions in the Caribbean and Trump’s sanctions on Venezuela and Iran. UN human rights experts have condemned those operations as extrajudicial, intensifying diplomatic strains between Bogotá and Washington.

Colombian authorities have seized 14 tons of cocaine from a warehouse near the Pacific port of Buenaventura, marking the country’s largest drug bust in ten years. The operation, carried out without casualties, was announced by the Ministry of Defense on social media. President Gustavo Petro confirmed the seizure, which comes amid escalating tensions with Washington over Colombia’s anti-narcotics efforts. The United States recently criticized Bogotá for insufficient action against drug trafficking and warned of possible financial sanctions and removal from the list of allies in the US-led war on drugs. Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine. President Petro has been openly critical of former US President Donald Trump’s anti-drug policies and has condemned US naval operations in the Caribbean and Pacific as extrajudicial killings. The massive seizure is seen as a significant move by Colombia to demonstrate its commitment to combating the narcotics trade despite diplomatic strains with the United States.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered all Israeli diplomats to leave the country after Israeli forces detained two Colombians aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying aid to Gaza. The flotilla, made up of around 45 vessels, came under Israeli attack, with several ships seized. Petro condemned the action as a violation of international law and canceled Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel. He had already cut diplomatic ties in May but escalated measures with this expulsion order.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has demanded the imprisonment of former U.S. President Donald Trump for directly supporting what he termed the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza.

“Trump deserves jail if he continues backing this genocide,” Petro declared, citing the Rome Statute, which allows for the arrest of war criminals anywhere in the world. He suggested even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested from the U.S. under international law and questioned why Washington had not acted.

Petro also announced Colombia’s decision to cancel its free trade agreement with Israel, while criticizing the U.S. for disregarding international law. Earlier, he rejected the U.S. decision to revoke his visa over his criticism of Israeli actions.

Colombia's former President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for fraud and witness tampering, marking the first criminal conviction of a former head of state in the country. He was also fined $578,000 and banned from holding public office. Uribe, who served from 2002 to 2010, has denied the charges and plans to appeal. The case involved testimony from ex-paramilitary members who claimed they were bribed to support him. His former lawyer is also facing trial in connection with the case.

Scientists analyzing 6,000-year-old skeletons discovered in Bogotá's Altiplano region have identified a previously unknown human lineage with no known ancestors or descendants. These nomadic hunter-gatherers lived in forests and valleys, but their origins and disappearance remain a mystery. The findings challenge the understanding of South America's ancient populations, as this lineage differs from the known northern and southern indigenous groups. Researchers aim to uncover more archaeological evidence to reveal the life and culture of this lost civilization.

Miguel Uribe, a 39-year-old Colombian presidential candidate, was seriously injured after being shot during a campaign event in Bogotá’s Fontibón area. He is a member of the conservative Democratic Center party, founded by former President Álvaro Uribe, though they are not related. Authorities arrested one suspect and are investigating further. The Colombian government condemned the attack and called for a full inquiry. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez has visited Uribe in the hospital.