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The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, publicly rejected the call from Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro for a supposed "military union" between the two countries, making it clear that he will not support any initiative that implies the subordination of foreign armed forces or support for a dictatorship.
Petro's statements were captured in a video shared on X, where the Colombian president answered questions from the press regarding the recent call made by Maduro.
His words were categorical: "I do not support a dictatorship; I support a negotiated and peaceful political solution exclusively between the forces of Venezuela and its people, because I believe in popular sovereignty. Now, do I support an invasion? No."
The Colombian head of state also directly addressed Maduro's attempt to involve the Armed Forces of Colombia in his political and military strategy.
"No, he does not have to give orders to the military," asserted Petro, establishing a clear boundary against any attempts at interference.
In this regard, the president explained that there are institutional and sovereign principles that cannot be violated, even among ideologically close governments.
"I cannot give orders to the Venezuelan Army, nor can they give orders to the Colombian Army," he emphasized, ruling out any possibility of military coordination outside the legal and diplomatic frameworks between states.
In this way, Petro explicitly rejects the Venezuelan regime's attempt to drag Colombia into its regional confrontation.
The statement comes after the call made by Maduro for a political and military alliance between Venezuela and Colombia, amidst rising tensions with the United States.
During a discussion with members of the Bolivarian Society, the leader of the Venezuelan regime urged not only the Colombian social movements but also their Armed Forces to align with Caracas in the face of a potential conflict scenario.
"My call is to the people of Colombia, to its social movements, to the military of Colombia. I urge them to achieve perfect unity with Venezuela so that no one touches the sovereignty of our countries and to carry out Bolívar's mandate of permanent union and happiness," said Maduro.
In his speech, the dictator once again invoked the figure of Simón Bolívar and the historical idea of Gran Colombia, proposing a sort of regional "refoundation" in response to what he perceives as external threats.
According to Maduro, greater political and military integration would be necessary to sustain the so-called "Bolivarian revolution."
These statements were made in the context of increasing international pressure on Caracas, marked by warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, new sanctions, and a strengthening of Washington's rhetoric against the Venezuelan regime, which is accused of drug trafficking and systematic human rights violations.
Until now, the Colombian government had not issued an official response.
However, Petro's response made it clear that, despite sharing a leftist ideological orientation, Colombia will not support an authoritarian drift nor compromise its military institutions in favor of the interests of Venezuelan power.
Analysts interpreted the president's words as a sign of distancing from Maduro and a reminder that sovereignty and respect among states do not allow for unilateral appeals or ideological slogans to justify the subordination of armies or peoples.
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