Colombian President Gustavo Petro Survives Serious Assassination Attempt
Colombian President Gustavo Petro narrowly avoided a serious assassination attempt early on Tuesday, as his presidential helicopter was forced to change course and remain airborne for four hours due to direct threats of gunfire upon landing. This incident underscores the rising security concerns in Colombia as the country approaches its upcoming presidential elections.
During a live-streamed government meeting, Petro revealed that the helicopter, which was transporting him the night of Monday, had to urgently divert to avoid armed individuals ready to attack. He stated, "We arrived at a place we did not intend to go... We did this to escape death."
This event follows months of repeated warnings received by Petro regarding an assassination plot orchestrated by drug trafficking networks, which he claims have aimed to target him since he took office in August 2022.
Petro identified Ivan Mordisco, the leader of a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as being involved in the planning of the assassination attempt. This faction has rejected the peace agreement signed with the government in 2016, and armed groups continue to operate in various regions of the country.
Colombia is experiencing a troubling rise in violence, coinciding with the lead-up to presidential elections, in a nation that has endured decades of bloody conflict involving the state, rebels, and organized crime gangs. It is important to note that several leftist leaders and presidential candidates have been assassinated in earlier periods of the country’s history.
Petro is the first leftist president in Colombia's history and is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term. He also reported having survived a similar assassination attempt in 2024.
Internationally, these developments come just days after a nearly two-hour meeting between Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, which was described as friendly despite previous tensions between the two parties.
Trump had previously threatened military action against Colombia, accusing Petro of facilitating cocaine trafficking to the United States and mentioning the possibility of military intervention similar to that in Venezuela.
Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, while the United States is the largest consumer. In an effort to ease tensions, Petro expelled a major drug lord to the United States last week, a move seen as a goodwill gesture towards Washington.
For decades, Colombia has been the closest ally of the United States in Latin America, receiving billions of dollars to support its military and intelligence services in the fight against drugs. However, under Petro's presidency, coca cultivation and cocaine exports have significantly increased, further complicating the country’s security and political landscape.
This recent survival incident raises a critical question for Colombia:
Will the nation be able to contain drug gangs, or will violence continue to shape the country’s political future?
