Colombia's Petro calls for dialogue, urges US to avoid Cuba invasion

Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged against a US invasion of Cuba during his visit to Havana, proposing dialogue as an alternative to escalating tensions. Petro, who is nearing the end of his term, called for global solidarity with Cuba and suggested that even the current US administration engage in talks.

Petro's remarks, made to Cuban media after meeting with President Miguel Díaz-Canel, come amid strained US-Cuba relations. The US has imposed sanctions, including an oil embargo, which have severely impacted Cuba's economy, leading to shortages of essential goods. Despite these pressures, diplomatic conversations have occurred, though Cuba reports a lack of progress.

The Colombian president's stance contrasts sharply with his successor, Abelardo de la Espriella, who is set to take office on August 7. De la Espriella has declared his intention to sever diplomatic ties with Cuba and Nicaragua, labeling them "tyrannies." The Cuban government has criticized this announcement as a clear alignment with US policy.

Petro, a vocal critic of the US "maximum pressure" policy toward Cuba, emphasized the importance of dialogue, stating, "It is time to talk." His visit to Havana, which concluded on Saturday, also took place in the context of Cuba's historical role in hosting peace talks, including the 2016 agreement with the FARC guerrilla group.