Colombian President Gustavo Petro found himself at the centre of a diplomatic clash with the United States this week after refusing to allow US military aircraft carrying deported Colombians to land in his country. The standoff, which saw Colombia defying President Donald Trump‘s mass deportation plans, culminated in a fierce trade dispute, with Trump threatening hefty tariffs on Colombian goods. However, after several hours of tension, Petro backed down and agreed to allow the deportations to proceed.
From Guerrilla to president
Gustavo Petro, 63, is one of Colombia’s most controversial and influential political figures. Born in Ciénaga de Oro, a small village in Colombia’s Cordoba province, Petro rose from humble beginnings to become the first ex-guerrilla to hold the country’s highest office. His political journey is deeply intertwined with Colombia’s turbulent history of armed conflict and political unrest.
Petro was a former member of the 19th of April Movement (M-19), a Marxist guerrilla group. Petro’s involvement with M-19 helped shape his leftist ideology, and he later became a prominent figure in Colombia’s political scene.
He studied economics at Universidad Externado de Colombia and furthered his education with graduate studies at Escuela Superior de Administración Pública (ESAP). After his guerrilla years, Petro transitioned into politics, where he initially gained attention as a member of Colombia’s Senate. His 2006 election to the Senate was marked by his exposure to the parapolitics scandal, which implicated high-level government officials in collusion with paramilitary groups.
Political rise
Petro’s political career took a significant turn when he was elected Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, in 2011. His tenure as mayor, beginning in January 2012, made history, as he became the first former guerrilla to hold such an important political office. Although his time in office was marked by both praise and criticism, it solidified his status as a leading political figure in Colombia.
In 2018, Petro ran for president but lost in a close election. However, his political ambitions were far from over. In 2022, he returned to the ballot and won the presidential election, marking a significant shift to the left for the nation. His victory in the 2022 election was hailed as a historic moment for Colombia, as Petro became the country’s first left-wing president in recent history.
Approval ratings and controversies
Petro’s presidency has been marked by fluctuating approval ratings. When he first took office in August 2022, he enjoyed a 48% approval rating. However, by March 2023, disapproval of his leadership had grown, with 53% of Colombians expressing dissatisfaction with his performance. His popularity is particularly low in Bogotá and Colombia’s eastern regions.
Petro’s tenure has not been without controversy. One notable scandal was the “Nannygate” controversy, which involved the resignation of two top officials—his ambassador to Venezuela, Armando Benedetti, and his chief of staff, Laura Sarabia—after leaked recordings suggested illicit campaign financing and threats to release damaging information. This scandal caused significant damage to Petro’s public image and led to questions about corruption within his administration.
The US-Colombia diplomatic crisis
In January 2025, the tensions between Colombia and the United States reached a boiling point when President Petro refused to allow two US military planes carrying deported Colombian citizens to land in his country. Petro insisted that deportations should be conducted “with dignity” and suggested they be carried out on civilian planes instead. In retaliation, US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping sanctions on Colombia, including travel restrictions and visa revocations for Colombian officials, heightened customs checks for Colombian goods, and emergency 25% tariffs on all Colombian imports.
While Petro initially responded by threatening to impose his own tariffs on US products, he ultimately backed down after a few hours of heated back-and-forth. Colombian foreign minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced late Sunday that the crisis had been resolved, with Colombia agreeing to accept the deported citizens.
Personal life
Petro is married to Veronica Alcocer, with whom he has two daughters, Sofia and Antonella. He has previously been married to Katia Burgos, with whom he has a son, Nicolas Petro Burgos. Petro has also had a relationship with Mary Luz Herrán, with whom he shares two children, Andrea and Andres.
