Day: September 23, 2025

Gustavo Petro rejects U.S. military strikes near Venezuela and likens Gaza to Nazi experiments.

On Monday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced recent U.S. military operations and criticized the U.S. decision to “decertify” Colombia in its fight against drug trafficking, alleging that the United Nations is complicit in failed global anti-drug policies, reports 24brussels.

During a high-level climate financing dialogue at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Petro questioned the legitimacy of foreign intervention in domestic affairs. “I am a president decertified by a foreign government. By what right, under international law, can the president of a foreign government decertify another president who was elected by his own people? Is that democracy or the beginning of barbarism?” he stated.

Last week, the Biden administration removed Colombia from its list of compliant countries in the fight against drug trafficking for 2024, a decision that Petro characterized as indicative of a flawed approach to drug control. He also criticized the UN for its inconsistent definitions of dangerous substances based on their country of origin, pointing out that while alcohol is deemed less harmful, cannabis faces significant stigma due to its association with producing countries in the Global South.

The Colombian president went on to vocalize his opposition to U.S. military strikes targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea. He stated, “The South is the victim of a drug control approach that leads to the murder of young people, who are not to blame, with missiles ordered by a president of the United States.”

Petro labeled the U.S. approach to drug trafficking as a “misguided policy” that perpetuates inequality and violence. He contended that this strategy incorrectly assigns blame to drugs themselves rather than holding accountable those profiting from the narcotics trade in affluent cities like “New York, Miami or Dubai.” He emphasized, “The missiles don’t go there. The missiles go to the poor.”

Additionally, he drew parallels between the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the U.S. military’s actions, suggesting both are products of a dominant global power structure that neglects the humanitarian needs of affected populations. “It is the same global power that prevents solving the climate crisis and therefore makes it impossible for humanity to survive. It is the same global power that drops bombs on Gaza… to continue dominating the world,” he asserted.

Petro characterized the shared struggles against drug trafficking and anti-immigration as emblematic of a broader systemic conflict, arguing that they reflect a “war between greed and life,” reinforcing a perceived hierarchy where Europeans view themselves as superior. “What they are doing in Gaza is an experiment just like Hitler’s, when he began testing gas chambers and concentration camps,” he said, reiterating calls for an international protective force to address the ongoing violence in Gaza.

As these discussions unfold, Petro continues to advocate for a re-evaluation of international drug policies and seeks greater accountability from powerful nations regarding their roles in global conflicts.