Commission Asks Petro to Stop Conducting Colombia’s Foreign Policy Via X

The Foreign Relations Advisory Commission (CARE) has formally requested that President Gustavo Petro refrain from managing Colombia’s foreign policy through his X account, specifically regarding the United States.

The request was made during a high-level meeting at the Casa de Nariño on Tuesday, where former presidents and lawmakers gathered to discuss the crisis in Venezuela and the upcoming meeting between Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Senator Jose Luis Perez of the Cambio Radical party, who attended the session, confirmed that the commission made a “frank and open” appeal to the president to stop using his X account for sensitive foreign policy matters.

The request follows a period of digital tensions, including a recent exchange where President Trump threatened a military operation in Colombia similar to the one that resulted in the capture of Nicolas Maduro, and Petro called on U.S. troops to disobey orders while in New York.

The commission asked Petro to avoid handling Colombia’s foreign policy toward the US through X

“It was said … that he should not try to manage Colombia’s foreign relations, and less so with the United States, by social media,” Perez said. “There are diplomatic mechanisms.” According to reports, President Petro received the feedback “with tranquility” and agreed to the request.

The session marked the fourth time the advisory body has convened during the current administration and was attended by former presidents Juan Manuel Santos, Ernesto Samper, and Cesar Gaviria. Former presidents Alvaro Uribe, Ivan Duque, and Andres Pastrana declined the invitation, though Uribe and Duque communicated their views privately to Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio.

#POLÍTICA Al término de la reunión de la Comisión Asesora de Relaciones Exteriores, el senador José Luis Pérez entregó un balance sobre el encuentro, y señaló que una de las peticiones de la oposición hacia el presidente Gustavo Petro, fue el dejar de utilizar su cuenta de X para… pic.twitter.com/O8wR8lXqHs

— ÚltimaHoraCaracol (@UltimaHoraCR) January 14, 2026

The meeting focused heavily on the redefinition of relations with Washington and Caracas following the U.S. military operation that removed Maduro from power. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti confirmed that Delcy Rodriguez, who now heads the Venezuelan regime, is expected to arrive in Bogota in less than 15 days.

Former President Santos called for a democratic transition in Venezuela

Former President Santos used the platform to call for a transition to legitimate democracy in Venezuela. He questioned the logic of replacing an illegitimate president with an illegitimate vice president and stated that the transition must include the opposition. Santos suggested recognizing the results of the 2024 elections, which pointed to a victory for Edmundo Gonzalez, or holding new elections within 30 days as mandated by the Venezuelan Constitution.

Regarding the United States, the commission emphasized the need for “prudence and diplomacy” ahead of Petro’s meeting with Trump at the White House, scheduled for the first week of February. The advisory body agreed on the importance of moving toward a new hemispheric cooperation on drug trafficking that prioritizes development and public health over strictly repressive measures.

A pesar de mis diferencias con este gobierno, voy a asistir, como es el deber de todo expresidente, a la Comisión Asesora de Relaciones Exteriores. El interés nacional debe estar por encima de las diferencias políticas. pic.twitter.com/2eqLB675cQ

— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) January 13, 2026

Despite the absence of opposition leaders, President Petro noted on X that there was common ground during the gathering. The government reiterated its commitment to international law and its condemnation of military invasions, while stressing the need to maintain an active agenda of cooperation with the U.S. based on mutual respect.