Colombia’s leftist president, Gustavo Petro, called for legal action against former President Donald Trump regarding a recent military operation targeting drug-laden vessels in the Caribbean. This declaration was made during the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
It was noted that this was Petro’s final address as head of state, with Colombia set to hold presidential elections in May and June 2026. According to the constitution, he is not eligible to run again. He also mentioned wearing a pin symbolizing “War to Death,” inspired by a historical flag of Venezuela during its War of Independence.
During his approximately 40-minute speech, Petro accused Trump of perpetuating drug-related violence and criticized his immigration policies, describing them as a façade for a “wealthy, racist society.” He likened Trump’s actions to those of despots, claiming they promote violence in Latin America by reinforcing militarized drug enforcement.
Petro claimed he was a “recognized” leader, referring to Trump’s designation of Colombia as failing to uphold international agreements on drug trafficking. He insisted that Trump has no moral authority to dictate terms to Colombia, reiterating accusations of murder related to military strikes on drug ships in the Caribbean.
Reflecting on his previous remarks at the Assembly, he expressed that the dire situation in Palestine echoes troubling realities reflected in Colombia, highlighting violence against civilians.
“There’s persecution and suffering of countless migrants,” he added, and remarked on the devastation in Gaza.
Petro claimed that those onboard drug trafficking vessels were not necessarily—indeed, not likely—linked to terrorism or organized crime but rather poor young Latin Americans seeking alternatives. He criticized Trump for launching attacks on vulnerable individuals.
He stated, “Trump is quick to label these people as terrorists while he lives comfortably in cities like New York or Miami,” emphasizing perceived hypocrisy in the U.S. approach to drug-related issues.
“It seems the focus is on external pressures, like keeping operations out of the U.S. while drug demand persists globally,” he reflected on human struggles exacerbated by the climate crisis.
Petro’s comments also extended to the treatment of migrants and he drew comparisons to historical persecution, arguing against the criminalization of immigrants and drug users alike.
In his address, Petro controversially implicated Trump as complicit not only in military actions in the Caribbean but also in violent conflicts abroad, going as far as to call for solidarity across various nations against perceived imperialism.
At one point, he urged for a global alliance to address these issues, advocating for revolution against what he sees as tyranny backed by Washington and NATO.
“The U.S. has shifted from promoting democracy to dismantling it,” he claimed, pushing for international action to intervene and end violence in Gaza as part of a broader quest for justice and freedom.
