Aug 12, 2025
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for an urgent meeting of Latin American foreign ministers and cabinet officials in response to what he described as a threat of aggression and interference by the United States government.
The appeal follows Washington’s recent announcement authorizing military operations against foreign drug cartels and increasing the bounty for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million.
Speaking at an official ceremony in Bogotá, Petro declared: “Colombia and Venezuela are the same people, the same flag, the same history.”
He warned that any military operation not approved by Latin American nations would constitute an attack on the region, adding: “Any military operation without the approval of our brother nations is an aggression against Latin America and the Caribbean. It contradicts our principle of liberty. ‘Liberty or death,’ Bolívar shouted, and the people rose up.”
El Presidente @PetroGustavo convocó a una reunión urgente de cancilleres de América Latina ante amenazas contra la “patria de Bolívar”; denunció amenazas en su contra y solicitó al director de la @PoliciaColombia, articular la inteligencia de la DIPOL con instituciones… pic.twitter.com/RWGsQ6lSJN
— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) August 12, 2025
Petro confirmed his intention to coordinate Colombia’s military forces with Venezuela’s, not to merge them, but to jointly combat drug trafficking along the shared border. He claimed this strategy has already yielded results, including joint military strikes against the ELN on both sides of the frontier.
He also ordered international intelligence coordination with the U.S., Europe, Latin America, China, and the Arab world, emphasizing that the fight against drug trafficking must be multilateral and respectful of national sovereignty.
Petro reiterated his opposition to U.S. anti-narcotics policy, calling it “misguided” and responsible for the unnecessary deaths of Latin Americans. He contrasted this with the fentanyl crisis in the U.S., which causes 100,000 deaths annually, noting that Colombia does not produce fentanyl due to its lack of industrial infrastructure.
Petro’s stance has sparked mixed reactions. While Colombian social movements have expressed solidarity with Venezuela, business and diplomatic sectors warn of the risks of aligning with Maduro’s government, which the U.S. accuses of leading the Cartel of the Suns and maintaining ties with criminal organizations.
Petro also revealed ongoing dialogues with the Clan del Golfo, Colombia’s largest drug cartel, as part of his “Total Peace” initiative.
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