"Hundreds of people assembled on Wednesday in Plaza San Francisco, in central Cali, responding to a nationwide call by Colombian President Gustavo Petro to defend national sovereignty amid escalating tensions with the United States. Footage shows participants waving Colombian flags and holding portraits of President Petro in visible support of his leadership. The demonstrations follow inflammatory comments by US President Donald Trump, including warnings of potential military action reminiscent of the recent US operation in Venezuela. Protesters explicitly rejected what they described as threats to Colombia and called for regional solidarity against US imperialism. “That is what we are defending here. The sovereignty of peoples, especially with the threat to Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba and all Latin American countries. We must defend the sovereignty of peoples,” said Simon Velasquez, leader of Commune 20 in Cali. “It is necessary to bring together the anti-imperialist will of Latin American peoples to confront North American power,” added Juan Bautista, spokesperson for Minga, an indigenous social organisation active in Cali. The mobilisation in Cali was part of a nationwide series of demonstrations under the slogan 'for sovereignty and democracy', convened by President Petro after Trump’s remarks suggesting the possibility of similar actions on Colombian territory, remarks widely condemned in Bogota. Protests were reported in other major cities, including Bogota, Medellin and Cucuta, as Colombians took to public squares across the country. Flags were raised, and participants voiced opposition to any foreign intervention they viewed as undermining international law and national sovereignty. The protests follow the controversial US special forces operation in Venezuela on January 3, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and sparked diplomatic outcry across the region. Leaders from Brazil, Mexico and Colombia condemned the move as a violation of sovereignty and warned against escalation. Despite the friction, diplomatic channels remain open: Trump and Petro spoke by phone on Wednesday, with Trump praising the tone of the conversation and extending an invitation for Petro to visit the White House, signalling at least a temporary de-escalation. Diplomatic relations between Bogota and Washington have since shown signs of de-escalation. Trump and President Petro spoke by phone on Wednesday night, with Trump describing the conversation as 'cordial' and inviting Petro to the White House for further talks."