International Allies Urge Peaceful Power Transfer in Colombia Amid Election Doubts

The United States and twelve member nations of the "Shield of the Americas" alliance have jointly called on Colombian authorities to guarantee a peaceful transition of power. This comes after outgoing President Gustavo Petro raised doubts about the results of the second round of the recent presidential election.

In a joint statement, the nations declared, "We issue a firm call to all Colombian authorities to act in full accordance with the constitution, law, and democratic principles... and to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and transparent transfer of power, in accordance with the highest standards of the rule of law."

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We issue a firm call to all Colombian authorities to act in full accordance with the constitution, law, and democratic principles... and to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and transparent transfer of power, in accordance with the highest standards of the rule of law.

President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, a far-right politician supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump, had previously requested his team suspend the handover process from Petro's administration. This action was a protest against the leftist president's refusal to acknowledge the June election results.

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deep concern over recent statements and actions that have, without sufficient evidence, cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process in the Republic of Colombia, and have created uncertainty regarding the normal course of the institutional transfer of power.

Petro, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, has since pledged to ensure a "peaceful transfer of power" and will remain in office until de la Espriella assumes the presidency next month. The signatory nations expressed "deep concern over recent statements and actions that have, without sufficient evidence, cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process in the Republic of Colombia, and have created uncertainty regarding the normal course of the institutional transfer of power."

The statement further asserted that "disregarding the results officially announced by the competent authorities constitutes a serious disregard for the will of the people and the principles upon which the rule of law is based." The United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago signed the declaration.

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disregarding the results officially announced by the competent authorities constitutes a serious disregard for the will of the people and the principles upon which the rule of law is based.