Accusations Against President Petro’s Son Strain US-Colombia Relations

U.S. report linking the alleged corruption case of Nicolas Petro, son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, to his father’s presidential campaign, has strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. In response, Colombia issued a diplomatic note of protest against the U.S. State Department’s report, alleging that President Gustavo Petro’s campaign received funds irregularly.

The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a document to Vedant Patel, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, contesting the report’s findings. The report asserts that “credible” evidence indicates irregular financial contributions to President Gustavo Petro’s campaign, highlighting the involvement of Nicolas Petro, the president’s eldest son, in the matter.

Unrest at the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Relations between the two countries have consumed significant attention within Colombian diplomatic circles. Since the inception of Colombia’s first left-wing government, the country has endeavored to show that it remains committed to its principal ally in international politics.

Just a year ago, President Gustavo Petro had a cordial meeting with President Biden at the White House, and there have been numerous indications of mutual understanding between the two governments. Particularly significant were the agreements on combating climate change and the positive reception by the U.S. president to President Petro’s proposal to exchange debt for climate action, which he presented at the United Nations.

However, the U.S. State Department report discussing alleged corruption in the 2022 electoral campaign of then-candidate Gustavo Petro, and the involvement of his eldest son, Nicolas, in a scheme to funnel drug money into his father’s campaign, has caused disquiet in Colombia. “Colombia rejects the expressions and assessments of Mr. Vedant Patel, which are far removed from the actual content of what is presented in the report,” stated the foreign ministry.

Petro’s son and Biden’s son case parallels

The Colombian Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, has elaborated further, stating, “We have not commented on the investigations concerning President Biden’s son,” referring to the ongoing U.S. legal proceedings against Hunter Biden, who has been formally charged with nine tax offenses in California related to alleged tax evasion.

Murillo emphasized that “we respect and take very seriously the reports that are made unilaterally and extraterritorially by countries because we are open to international scrutiny.” However, the head of Colombian diplomacy also affirmed, “We do not discuss the internal processes in the United States because we respect the sovereignty of the country and its institutions,” a courtesy he requested to be reciprocated in relations between the two countries.

In a conciliatory effort, the Colombian Foreign Minister indicated that he hopes to meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia, Francisco Palmieri, in the coming days to personally convey the Colombian government’s concerns and seek an agreement to resolve this controversy.