Petro Warns US Policy May Trigger Latin American Rebellion

Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned on April 18, 2026, that U.S. Pressure on dissenting Latin American leaders could trigger a regional “rebellion” against Washington’s influence if current policies are not reconsidered.

Speaking in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais during a summit in Barcelona alongside the leaders of Spain, Brazil and Mexico, Petro described U.S. Sanctions as a political instrument used to extort leaders who dissent from American policy.

Petro, a former member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group, has been placed on a sanctions list by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for alleged involvement in the global illicit drug trade, a designation he criticized as politically motivated.

Drawing a historical parallel, Petro compared the current U.S. Approach to the system employed by the Spanish king centuries ago, noting that Latin America’s response then was rebellion, and warning that a similar outcome could occur today if the U.S. Government fails to rethink its ties to the region.

He cited the U.S. Bombing of Caracas in January 2026, conducted as part of an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as an action that instilled fear across Latin American leadership.

Despite his criticism of U.S. Policy, Petro stated that his personal relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump remained constructive, noting they had spoken twice recently and had “shattered false narratives about each other,” emphasizing that their meetings occurred as equals rather than as supplicant and superior.

Petro, who was elected in 2022, is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election and is set to leave office in August 2026.

(Reporting by David Latona; Editing by William Mallard)