Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Photo: Presidencia de Colombia.
During the Council of Ministers, President Gustavo Petro laid out the foundations of what he called a new foreign policy for Colombia, marking a break with historical alliances, criticizing traditional diplomacy, and ordering drastic changes in the diplomatic and intelligence corps.
The president emphasized a geopolitical reorientation toward Latin America, the Caribbean, and greater cooperation with Asia and Africa: “There’s another international policy to pursue here, Madam Foreign Minister. Not only on the military front, but also on the diplomatic front.”
One of his most forceful announcements was his decision to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), criticizing the militaristic logic that, he said, has supported crimes against humanity. “We do not belong to NATO. Madam Foreign Minister, please, we are not from the North Atlantic. We are from the South Atlantic, and our land is called the Caribbean, the Caribbean Sea. What are we doing there?”
He also added: “If a North Atlantic government decides to ally itself with crimes against humanity, what should we do there? These are drastic measures, but I think they must be taken now.” He also clarified his rejection of other geopolitical structures like the BRICS: “I’m not going to be in the BRICS either, because the BRICS are oil-related.”
The president announced a thorough purge of the diplomatic corps and intelligence officers who have sabotaged his foreign policy, particularly his relationship with China. “All the ambassadors — those I call white because they were raised in feudal diplomacy — are leaving.”
He added: “The change in embassy staff in China sabotages relations, changes my schedules, cancels appointments without our knowledge.” He also criticized the intelligence representative in the US and proposed suspending the deployment of officials to that country: “We’re going to replace all those representatives. In fact, I think none of them should go to the United States anymore.”
The president reaffirmed that Colombia’s priority in international affairs will be regional integration: “Our alliance is Latin America and the Caribbean — that is our alliance.” He also insisted that the country must disengage from global powers to focus on its regional environment: “Our alliance is here to defend Latin America and the Caribbean because we are part of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
In line with his critical stance toward the US, the president proposed revising the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with that country: “If the United States has already amended the FTA, why don’t we? Trade is not above life.” He also asserted that trade relations with Israel will also be suspended: “And that means we’re also reforming the FTA, and that means there will no longer be an FTA with Israel.”
President Petro Claims That US Violates International Law by Revoking His Visa
The president also sharply questioned the US role at the UN, particularly in relation to diplomatic visas and the genocide in Gaza. “You don’t even have the right to take away the visa of anyone who comes to speak at the United Nations. You’re breaking international law at the United Nations.” He concluded: “The United Nations cannot kowtow to a government that is complicit in genocide. So let’s act.”
Regarding the international handling of drug trafficking, he condemned an unfair policy that “decertifies Colombia” based on an erroneous report, and suggested that the Drug Commission should be led by Haiti. “The United States’ problem is no longer cocaine. It’s called fentanyl — 30 times more deadly and powerful.” He added: “Perhaps the people most harmed by cocaine today could be said to be Haiti more than we are.” In that context, he stated: “We are not going to support the candidacy that the United States has proposed.”
Finally, the president emphasized that Colombia will pursue a non-aligned policy, critical of hegemonic power and focused on Latin American interests. “I want relations with all the peoples of the world, not just one. That’s not relations with humanity; that’s colonialism.” He concluded with a definitive statement: “As long as we’re here … we don’t belong in NATO.”
(Diario VEA) by Yuleidys Hernández Toledo
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JB/SH