"It is not with Netanyahu that the Venezuelan people will be helped," Petro tells María Corina Machado.

247 - In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, harshly criticized Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado after she signed a letter praising former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The letter, addressed to Netanyahu and Javier Macri, was highlighted by Machado as a gesture of gratitude for the welcoming of Venezuelans in Argentina. However, Petro questioned this alliance, especially given Netanyahu's involvement in genocidal actions in Gaza, which, according to the Colombian president, are incompatible with the principles of peace and democracy.

Petro challenged Machado to reflect on the consequences of supporting a figure like Netanyahu, accused of crimes against humanity. "How can a genocidal figure help bring peace to Venezuela?" Petro questioned, highlighting that supporting Netanyahu contradicts the pursuit of peaceful solutions for Venezuela. For the Colombian president, this stance does not represent genuine help for the Venezuelan people, but rather a reinforcement of dangerous and aggressive alliances.

Furthermore, Petro drew a parallel with his own political experience in Colombia, emphasizing the progress made in the peace process with the FARC. "I believe I've already reached the halfway point in fulfilling the agreement," he said, highlighting the progress he has made despite the difficulties and internal and external resistance. For Petro, peace in Colombia, as in Venezuela, can only be achieved through dialogue and a commitment to national reconciliation, and not through external interventions that further fuel the violence.

The president also criticized the United States government, which, according to him, did not act adequately to prevent the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, including many children. Petro pointed out that the US inaction has a significant impact on the crisis, and that US foreign policy, especially under recent administrations, has contributed to the continuation of violence in Gaza.

Regarding drug trafficking, a topic frequently addressed in international security policies, Petro suggested that Caribbean countries adopt a more cooperative and less militarized approach to combat drug trafficking. "Wouldn't it be better to support a major Caribbean agreement to definitively stop the trafficking of prohibited drugs there?" asked the Colombian president, advocating for a solution that respects the sovereignty of the countries in the region and is more effective than the use of military force.

In concluding his message, Petro reiterated that the true path to helping Venezuela does not lie in alliances with controversial figures like Netanyahu. "It is not by bringing Netanyahu into action for Venezuela that the Venezuelan people will be helped," he stated, reinforcing his criticism of Machado's stance and appealing for internal and peaceful dialogue to resolve the country's problems.