Colombia’s Petro criticized the U.S. after the capture of Nicolas Maduro. In a tense escalation of Latin American geopolitics, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has voiced sharp criticism and concern following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces early Saturday. The controversial operation, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, reportedly involved a “large-scale strike” in Venezuela that removed Maduro and his wife from power — triggering alarm and diplomatic pushback across the region, ABC News reports.
From Bogota, Petro underscored Colombia’s deep worries about the military action and its consequences, particularly for regional peace and humanitarian stability. In a series of posts on the social platform X, the Colombian leader described the U.S. operation as a violation of Venezuela’s and Latin America’s sovereignty, stressing that armed conflict should never be forced upon neighboring nations.
“The Government of the Republic of Colombia watches with profound concern the reports of explosions and unusual aerial activity recorded in recent hours in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, as well as the consequent escalation of tension in the region,” Petro wrote, calling for “respect for international law” and a return to diplomacy and dialogue.
Colombia’s Petro criticized the U.S. after the capture of Maduro and sent border forces
According to Al Jazeera, in light of the unfolding crisis, Petro declared that Colombia has mobilized public forces along its eastern border with Venezuela and is deploying humanitarian support units in anticipation of a potential mass influx of refugees. Colombia already hosts the world’s largest Venezuelan diaspora — nearly 3 million people, many of whom fled economic collapse and political repression over recent years.
“We have concluded a National Security Council meeting that began at 3 a.m.,” Petro said. “Public forces are being deployed to the border, and all available assistance forces are being made ready in case of massive refugee arrivals.”
The Colombian president also highlighted that Colombia’s embassy in Venezuela remains actively engaged to support Colombian nationals in crisis. He appealed to the Venezuelan people to pursue a peaceful transition through civil dialogue and unity, rather than foreign intervention.
International law on military intervention
Petro’s reaction aligns with a broader international outcry against the U.S. military operation. Leaders from Brazil, Mexico, and other nations condemned the strikes as breaches of the United Nations Charter and violations of state sovereignty, according to Reuters.
“We reject this aggression to Venezuela’s and Latin America’s sovereignty,” Petro wrote, urging the international community to uphold principles of peaceful resolution and self-determination.
This stance contrasts sharply with praise from U.S. officials, including Trump’s own description of the mission as “brilliant,” and accolades from some conservative Latin American leaders who framed the operation as a boost to liberty and global security.
Petro’s complex relationship with Maduro
Though Petro has consistently rejected foreign military intervention, his relationship with Maduro’s government has been nuanced. Historically, Petro’s administration has called Nicolas Maduro a dictator (he has charges for drug trafficking in New York) while also pushing for political dialogue and rejecting external interference in Venezuela’s sovereign affairs.
In late 2025, for instance, he proposed that Venezuela hold a renewed presidential election with “real guarantees for all contenders,” saying that foreign intervention is neither legal nor effective in resolving deep political crises.
Petro has also repeatedly maintained that peaceful solutions and negotiations are the only viable paths toward a legitimate Venezuelan transition, emphasizing that violence often fuels further instability and human suffering.
Regional stability at stake
The unfolding situation has placed Latin American geopolitics at a crossroads. Colombia’s stance reflects both concern for regional security and a pushback against unilateral military actions by external powers. Petro’s government, which assumed a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council just days ago, has called for an urgent emergency meeting to promote diplomatic engagement and de-escalation.
Analysts note that Colombia stands to face some of the most immediate fallout from the Venezuelan crisis — both in terms of security and humanitarian needs — given its long shared border and intertwined socio-political ties.
As the international community processes what may be one of the most dramatic shifts in Latin American leadership in years, Petro’s message has been consistent: Peace, international law, and diplomatic solutions should prevail over military confrontation. Petro also said he is not worried about being “the Next,” as Donald Trump threatened a few weeks ago.