petro Defends Military Reinforcement, Criticizes Foreign Drug Traffickers & Venezuela Blockade From New york
NEW YORK – President Gustavo Petro, speaking from New York on September 24, 2025, asserted his commitment to strengthening Colombia‘s military capabilities, while concurrently criticizing what he described as a weakening of the armed forces over the past 15 years. He framed the reinforcement not solely as a matter of acquiring equipment, but also of ensuring the well-being and dignified future of soldiers and police officers.
Petro stated, “They weakened the capabilities of the army in the last 15 years. I want to reinforce it. They are not just the airplanes. It is the war material that guarantees speed and mass depth.” He further emphasized the importance of financial security for service members and their families, adding, “They are not just weapons. He is a soldier and a patrolman who knows that his family and himself will have decent income.”
The President also advocated for a secure professional life post-service, “even above the disability that can occur by wounds,” and warned against the allure of mercenary work.
Petro’s remarks extended to a sharp critique of international drug trafficking, alleging that major players ”are blond and with blue eyes” and maintain vast fortunes in global financial centers like Miami, New York, Paris, Madrid, and Dubai. He contrasted their wealth with the locations targeted by violence, stating, “No poverty, but the missiles throw them where ther is poverty and not where there is luxury.”
Addressing concerns surrounding the “Aragua Train,” a Venezuelan criminal organization, Petro dismissed claims of terrorism, labeling them “common criminals” and attributing their growth to “the stupid idea of blocking Venezuela and keep his heavy and poisonous oil.”
Petro condemned the treatment of migrants, arguing against “concentration camps and expulsion…chained,” and characterizing migration as an inevitable result of economic blockades imposed on countries like Iraq, Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela. He concluded, “The economic blockade is nothing more than a genocide.”