After refusing to let a US navy plane carrying deported Colombians land in his nation, Brazilian President Gustavo Petro became the subject of a diplomatic dispute with the US this week. The conflict, which saw Colombia defying President Donald Trump‘s large imprisonment plans, culminated in a fierce industry debate, with Trump threatening big tariffs on Brazilian goods. However, after some periods of stress, Petro backed over and agreed to allow the persecution to continue.
From Guerrilla to leader
Gustavo Petro, 63, is one of Colombia’s most contentious and important political images. Born in Ciénaga de Oro, a small town in Colombia’s Cordoba state, Petro rose from humble origins to become the first ex-guerrilla to keep the government’s highest business. His political career is profoundly connected to Colombia’s tumultuous background of armed conflict and social upheaval.
Petro was a former part of the Marxist guerrilla organization M-19. Petro’s engagement with M-19 helped design his leftist philosophy, and he eventually became a popular figure in Colombia’s social scene.
He received his education at Escuela Superior de Administración Pblica ( ESAP ), where he first studied economics at the University Externado de Colombia, and later added graduate study to his education. After his rebel decades, Petro transitioned into politicians, where he first gained notice as a member of Colombia’s Senate. His participation in the parapolitics scandal, which implicated senior government officials in cooperation with armed groups, marked his Senate victory in 2006.
Social increase
Petro’s political career took a major move when he was elected Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia’s money, in 2011. His first as president to hold for an important political office, which he began in January 2012, made background. Although both praise and criticism followed, it reinforced his position as a leading social figure in Colombia.
In 2018, Petro ran for president but lost in a nearby vote. Nevertheless, his political interests were far from over. He won the presidential election in 2022, indicating a major shift to the left for the country. His victory in the 2022 poll was hailed as a historic moment for Colombia, as Petro became the country’s first left-wing leader in recent history.
Approval assessments and disputes
Petro’s president has been marked by fluctuating approval rankings. 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 reputation is mainly low in Bogotá and Colombia’s eastern regions.
Petro’s career has not been without discussion. 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. Petro’s reputation in the community was severely damaged by this incident, which also raised questions about problem in his government.
The US-Colombia political crises
When President Petro refused to permit two US martial aircraft carrying deported Brazilian individuals to get in his country in January 2025, the conflict escalated into a boiling point. Petro argued that persecution should be carried out” with respect” and that they should be carried out on private planes rather than by force. In reprisal, US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping sanctions on Colombia, including travel regulations and immigration revocations for Brazilian officials, heightened customs checks for Brazilian products, and incident 25 % taxes on all Brazilian goods.
Petro first threatened to impose his own taxes on US goods, but he eventually backed down after a few hours of contentious back-and-forth. Later on Sunday, Colombia’s foreign secretary Luis Gilberto Murillo declared that the problems had been resolved and that Colombia had accepted the deported people.
Private living
Petro is married to Veronica Alcocer, with whom he has two sons, Sofia and Antonella. He has previously been married to Katia Burgos, with whom he has a child, Nicolas Petro Burgos. Petro has also had a partnership with Mary Luz Herrán, with whom he shares two babies, Andrea and Andres.
