Published on 6/6/2026
Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro directed sharp criticism at US President Donald Trump, after the latter announced his support for the far-right candidate Abelardo de la Esparilla in the runoff round for the presidential elections in Colombia, considering that Washington supports forces linked to drug trafficking.
The runoff will be held on June 21, in which de la Esparilla will compete against leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda.
Petro said – in an interview with Agence France-Presse from the presidential palace – that “the allies of the United States in Colombia are a system that combines drug trafficking and the work of paramilitary militias, in addition to being the children of perpetrators of genocide.”
Petro’s statements came in response to Trump’s support for right-wing lawyer De La Esperilla (47 years old), who is accused of amassing his wealth from representing members of paramilitary militias involved in drug trafficking, in addition to those accused of fraud and football players.
De la Esperilla had accused Pietro of being lenient with leftist rebels involved in cocaine smuggling, pledging to tighten measures against them.
Petro and Cepeda accuse state-linked militias of committing “genocide” against left-wing leaders during the height of the conflict in the 1980s and 1990s.
Cepeda’s father, a Communist Party senator, was among more than 5,700 left-wing political activists killed during the conflict between the state, leftist rebels and right-wing militias.
Coming from outside the traditional political establishment, De La Esperilla is a supporter of Trump, and he campaigned behind bulletproof glass, pledging to confront armed groups in the air, on land, and at sea.
The Colombian Constitution prohibits the president from serving a second term. Petro is considered the first leftist president in the country’s history, and his strategy known as “comprehensive peace” failed to reach an agreement to end the conflict with armed groups, according to his critics.
Petro’s critics say his strategy gave criminal groups a free rein, leading to escalating violence and cocaine exports to record levels.
Trump sought to influence the election results in a number of Latin American countries, by supporting right-wing candidates who adopt a tough discourse on crime and immigration.
Colombia is witnessing the worst wave of violence since the signing of the peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016, with the assassination of a number of community and civilian leaders in car bomb and drone attacks, in addition to the killing of a presidential candidate.
Nearly a decade after the signing of the historic peace agreement, areas of Colombia are still under the control of opposition armed groups that dominate cocaine production.
A past of disagreement
Petro’s statements come in the context of escalating tension between him and Trump since his return to the White House.
The dispute began with Petro’s refusal to receive American military planes carrying Colombian immigrants deported from the United States, in protest against their treatment, before he retracted his position after Trump threatened to impose customs duties, sanctions, and visa restrictions.
Later, the dispute expanded to the drug control issue, as Trump accused Petro of allowing drug gangs to flourish, and threatened to increase fees, before Washington imposed sanctions on Petro – in October 2025 – against the backdrop of allegations related to drug trafficking.
Bogotá rejected Trump’s accusations, and said that Petro’s government had achieved record rates of cocaine seizures, and that the expansion of coca cultivation had slowed annually since 2021.
A similar situation is in Peru
In a related context, the leftist candidate in the presidential elections in Peru, Roberto Sanchez, confirmed – yesterday, Friday – that he wants to establish “respectful” relations with Trump, in a gesture of openness to Washington, two days before a second round of elections that is expected to be intense.
Sanchez, who is close in opinion polls with his conservative rival Keiko Fujimori, adopted a moderate tone when speaking about Trump, in an attempt to reassure hesitant voters and markets after years of political turmoil in Peru.
Sanchez told Agence France-Presse that “good neighbourliness, respectful relations between countries, and strengthening political, cultural and commercial ties must always remain a priority.”
He added that relations between Peru and the United States “cannot be an exception.”
In recent days, Sanchez has repeatedly called for consensus and stability, while remaining reserved about plans for radical change that worry a portion of conservative voters.
He said in a press conference, “Everyone who wants to win and bear this responsibility must remain humble, be wise, and call for political consensus.”
The leftist candidate also stressed the continuity of economic policy, indicating respect for the independence of the central bank and maintaining the macroeconomic rules that have been in place for a long time.
Opinion polls show a close match between Sanchez and Fujimori, with only a few points separating them, while issues of crime and insecurity dominate voters’ concerns.
