Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the US of fuelling global conflicts through its continued dependence on oil and coal, linking Washington’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement to ongoing wars and geopolitical tensions.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has said the US will continue to pursue wars as long as its economy remains dependent on oil and coal, arguing that Washington’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has contributed to global conflict.
Speaking to the BBC, Petro said that with around 70 percent of the US energy mix still based on fossil fuels, the country would “tend to seek wars for both resources”. He added that had the US remained committed to the Paris climate accord, “there would be no wars” and global relations, including with South America, would be “more democratic and peaceful”.
The Paris Agreement, built on a 1992 treaty involving 198 countries, aims to support climate action in developing nations. The US pulled out of the accord soon after Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Petro’s remarks follow a period of sharp exchanges with Trump on social media, during which the US President accused the Colombian leader of links to drug trafficking and threatened possible military action. Trump repeated those claims after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
However, tensions appear to have eased following an hour-long phone call between the two leaders. Colombian officials now expect improved cooperation with the US, particularly on drug trafficking. Trump said on Friday that Petro would visit the White House next month.
“I look forward to having a meeting with Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia, in the White House, during the first week of February,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Meanwhile, the US and Venezuela said they are exploring the restoration of diplomatic relations, with a Trump administration delegation arriving in the South American country on Friday.
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