Colombian President Gustavo Petro has rejected a plea from Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro’s for military support against the United States.
Petro called instead fora negotiated, peaceful, Venezuelan-led political solution to the crisis in the Caribbean, where American naval and air force forces remain perched on Maduro’s doorstep under U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating pressure campaign.
“I cannot give orders to the Venezuelan army, nor can anyone there give orders to the Colombian army,” Petro told reporters at a press conference at the Casa de Nariño, the official presidential residence in Bogotá, on Thursday.
Facing U.S. pressure and the possibility of armed conflict between between the U.S. and Venezuela, Maduro appealed to Colombia for a military alliance.
“I make a Gran Colombian appeal to the ordinary people of Colombia, to its social movements, political forces and its military. I call on you to the perfect union with Venezuela so that no one tries to touch the sovereignty of our countries,” he said
Petro said cooperation between Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela can only happen through popular support and constitutional legitimacy.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.
