Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has sent a public letter to United States President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging them to demand “full guarantees” for Colombia’s democracy during an upcoming meeting with President Gustavo Petro.
The meeting between Trump and Petro is scheduled to take place at the White House on Feb. 3, 2026, following a period of diplomatic tension between the two nations.
De la Espriella, a lawyer and businessman running for the presidency in the 2026 elections, released the letter and a video statement asking the U.S. administration to scrutinize the Colombian political process. He warned that the constitutional order faces threats during the election year.
De la Espriella asks Trump to demand full guarantees for Colombian democracy
“I ask you on behalf of the Colombian people that in that meeting … you help us demand with firmness full guarantees for Colombian democracy,” De la Espriella said in a video released on social media.
The presidential candidate also described Trump and Rubio as “great allies of democracy.” He argued that a “serious threat” persists in the region as long as the transition from dictatorship in Venezuela remains incomplete and “Petrism” is not defeated at the polls in Colombia.
De la Espriella also levied harsh accusations against Petro, labeling him a “special ally” of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, who is currently held in a detention center in New York.
El gobierno estadounidense, ante Petro, gana con cara o sello.
Firme por la Patria. 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/iDVPzeT6L9
— DE LA ESPRIELLA STYLE (@DELAESPRIELLAE) January 13, 2026
“U.S. intelligence knows perfectly well who Gustavo Petro is. He is an architect of chaos, an ally of Nicolas Maduro, and together they have turned drug trafficking into a weapon of terror,” De la Espriella stated. He added that the Colombian president is “not a leader, he is a transnational danger that must be combated.”
The lawyer calls for the US to question Maduro over ties to Petro
De la Espriella suggested that U.S. authorities should directly question Maduro regarding his alleged ties to the Colombian president. “Ask Maduro directly, since you have him in custody, about his links with Petro. The truth will come to light,” he said.
The letter also raised concerns about potential interference in the 2026 legislative and presidential elections. De la Espriella urged Trump to ensure Petro does not use armed force to influence results or execute a plan to remain in power.
In his statement, the candidate also attacked Senator Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Pacto Historico coalition. De la Espriella accused the administration of maintaining alliances with illegal armed groups such as ELN, FARC dissidents, and the Clan del Golfo to influence the elections, claiming Cepeda is a “key piece of guerrilla impunity.”
Concluding his message, De la Espriella appealed to the historical partnership between the two nations in the fight against drug trafficking. “Together let’s make America and Colombia great again,” he said.
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