Colombia's Gustavo Petro Calls Nicolás Maduro a Dictator But Says No Evidence Links Him to Being a 'Narco'

Ever since the United States and the Trump administration escalated their military campaign against drug trafficking organizations in South America, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has stood out as one of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's few remaining allies in the conflict.

But after months of public solidarity and support for Maduro, Petro called the Venezuelan authoritarian leader a dictator for the first time.

In a social media post, Petro said Maduro is a dictator for concentrating power in Venezuela. Despite that characterization, the Colombian president defended Maduro by saying he is not a drug trafficker, arguing there is no evidence in Colombia linking him to organized crime.

"Maduro is a dictator for concentrating power," Petro wrote on X. "There is no evidence in Colombia that he is a narco. That is a narrative from the U.S."

For months, the Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading the Cartel of the Suns, which Washington has labeled a terrorist group, a charge the Venezuelan government strongly denies.

Petro also lashed out at Chile's president-elect, José Antonio Kast, calling him a "son and believer of Nazis," as part of a series of posts criticizing Kast since his electoral victory.

After Kast's win, Petro used social media to warn that "winds of death are coming" to Latin America, adding that Kast's victory brings Chile closer to a fascist government.

In one of his messages, Petro referenced Kast's father's Nazi past and added, "Fascism is advancing. I will never shake the hand of a Nazi or the son of a Nazi."

Petro's remarks about Kast sparked outrage from journalist Patricia Janiot, who questioned the Colombian leader's posture toward the Venezuelan government and other leaders in the region.

"Why does Gustavo Petro have no hesitation in calling Chile's president-elect, José Antonio Kast, a Nazi and a fascist, yet remains silent and afraid to call Nicolás Maduro a narco-dictator and usurper of power?" Janiot wrote on X. "President Petro seems to forget that his friend Nicolás stole the elections, while Chile's next president won by a wide and decisive margin that must be respected, even if he doesn't like the outcome."

Following Petro's remarks, the Chilean government sent a letter of protest to Colombia's ambassador in Santiago, calling the president's comments "unacceptable."

According to the Chilean government's letter, as reported by EFE, Petro's statements constitute a breach of respect and an intrusion into Chile's internal politics, adding that they offend not only the president-elect, "but also the sovereign decision of the Chilean people and the strength of our democratic institutions."