Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Ukraine, Palestine, Why Latin America Rejects Western Hypocrisy

Colombian President Gustavo Petro joins Democracy Now! for an exclusive broadcast interview after his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he spoke of the need to end wars and stop the climate crisis. Petro is the first leftist to ever govern Colombia. He was elected in 2022 after campaigning to fight inequality and poverty, increase taxes on the wealthy, expand social programs, restore peace and end Colombia’s dependence on fossil fuels. He is a former M-19 guerrilla who went on to become the mayor of Bogotá and a senator before rising to the presidency. In Part 1 of the interview, Petro discusses his position on the war in Ukraine, the occupation of Palestine and the need for consistent international norms. “We’re neutral in any war, not because we don’t believe that there is an occupation [in Ukraine], but because, basically, we don’t believe in those who are inviting us to participate in war,“ says Petro, “because many of the countries of Latin America … have suffered invasions by the same countries that today are extending an invitation to reject the invasion of Ukraine.“ Transcript: Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Support independent media: Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: