Colombian president accuses foreign networks of undermining democracy amid US rhetoric

Relations between Colombia and the United States have entered a new phase of political tension following a sharp exchange of rhetoric between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and US President Donald Trump.

The escalation comes amid a series of public speeches and video statements by Petro, in which he moved beyond traditional diplomatic language to address what he described as existential threats to Colombian democracy, national sovereignty and regional stability in Latin America.

In his latest remarks, Petro warned of “internal threat” posed by organised networks seeking to undermine Colombia’s democratic system through money, political influence and sexual exploitation. “A sex trafficking ring is trying to end democracy in Colombia,” Petro said, adding that such networks operate through wealth and power to destabilise political institutions.

The Colombian president also criticised foreign military pressure in the region, referring to what he described as the deployment of warships and threats against neighbouring countries. He questioned public complacency in the face of regional conflicts, asking how Colombians could remain silent while neighbouring peoples face military pressure and intervention.

Petro specifically referenced Venezuela, arguing that regional sovereignty should be defended regardless of political differences between governments. “Not just presidents, but people are being affected,” he said, calling for a reassessment of Colombia’s stance towards regional conflicts.

In a pointed political message, Petro linked these alleged networks to international centres of power, invoking the sex trafficking scandals associated with Jeffrey Epstein as an example of how money, sex and politics can intersect to threaten democratic systems.

The comments come against the backdrop of growing diplomatic strain between Bogotá and Washington, as Petro positions himself as a critic of US influence in Latin America and frames the dispute as part of a broader struggle over sovereignty, democracy and regional independence.