Latest Gustavo Petro News

Colombia breaks diplomatic ties with Israel but its military relies on key Israeli-built equipment

May. 03, 2024 06:51 AM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia has become the latest Latin American country to announce it will break diplomatic relations with Israel over its military campaign in Gaza, but the repercussions for the South American nation could be broader than for other countries due to longstanding bilateral...

Colombia's president says country will break diplomatic relations with Israel over war in Gaza

May. 02, 2024 03:55 AM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday announced his government will break diplomatic relations with Israel effective Thursday in the latest escalation of tensions between the countries over the Israel-Hamas war. Petro again described Israel’s...

Colombia's president says thousands of grenades and bullets have gone missing from army bases

Apr. 30, 2024 16:40 PM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Tuesday that hundreds of thousands of pieces of ammunition have gone missing from two military bases in the South American country. In a brief statement, Petro said that an inspection this month by the army found that...

A Colombian army helicopter has crashed in a rural area of the country's north, killing 9 soldiers

Apr. 29, 2024 19:30 PM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — An army helicopter carrying supplies to troops crashed in a rural area in northern Colombia on Monday, killing nine soldiers on board, the country’s armed forces said. In a statement, the Colombian military said the helicopter was taking the supplies to...

Tens of thousands of Colombians protest against the leftist president's reform agenda

Apr. 22, 2024 00:51 AM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Thousands of Colombians took to the streets Sunday in the latest rebuke of leftist President Gustavo Petro's reform agenda. The demonstrations took place in several cities, including the capital. Protesters filled Bolivar Plaza outside the presidential...

Colombian security forces attacked with explosives after a cease-fire breaks down

Apr. 05, 2024 12:32 PM EDT

BOGOTÁ (AP) — Colombia suffered a series of attacks Thursday night and Friday morning, marking the first major assault against its military since a mafia group born from the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced it was scaling up operations earlier this week. ...

Argentina and Colombia avert a diplomatic crisis, downplaying their presidents' war of words

Apr. 01, 2024 12:21 PM EDT

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentina and Colombia have agreed to end a diplomatic spat that escalated over right-wing Argentine President Javier Milei’s visceral attack on his leftist counterpart in Colombia last week, prompting the country to order the expulsion of Argentine diplomats. ...

Argentina's Milei trades barbs with Mexican and Colombian leaders, ratcheting up tensions

Mar. 28, 2024 20:52 PM EDT

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Mudslinging between Latin American populist leaders dragged on Thursday, after days of Argentina’s President Javier Milei needling his leftist counterparts in Mexico and Colombia — coming to a head with a diplomatic blow the night before. Since right-wing...

Colombia threatens to break ties with Israel if it doesn't comply with a UN cease-fire resolution

Mar. 26, 2024 12:44 PM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday threatened to break off diplomatic ties with Israel if the country doesn't comply with a U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Petro made the announcement on X,...

Colombia's president invites the country's largest criminal group to peace talks, and it accepts

Mar. 19, 2024 13:52 PM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's largest criminal group said Tuesday it has accepted President Gustavo Petro's offer to start peace negotiations, but the next steps in any talks were not immediately clear. The Gaitanista Self Defense Forces of Colombia — called the Gulf Clan by...