Colombian Ambassador Clarifies President Petro’s ‘Wall’ Statement Referring to the Darien Gap was Taken Out of Context

Colombian Ambassador Clarifies President Petro’s ‘Wall’ Statement Referring to the Darien Gap was Taken Out of Context

The Colombian Ambassador to the United States, Luis Gilberto Murillo, clarified that President Gustavo Petro’s recent statement in Queens, New York City, where he mentioned building a “kind of wall” to prevent people from crossing to the U.S., was taken out of context. Murillo emphasized that Petro’s words were misunderstood and that the Colombian head of state did not intend to suggest any literal wall construction.

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According to Ambassador Murillo, the Colombian head of state was referring to measures aimed at preventing the passage of irregular migrants through the Darien Gap, a remote and treacherous jungle region that straddles the border between Colombia and Panama, and is often used as a transit route by immigrants. These comments were not meant to suggest the construction of a physical barrier but rather metaphorically pointed to the challenges faced by Colombia in managing migration through this region.

A Plea for International Support

A crucial aspect of President Petro’s remarks was his call for international support. Colombia is grappling with a complex migration issue and does not have adequate resources to manage this situation independently. The head of state’s metaphorical ‘wall’ was an appeal for further support from the United States and the wider international community. He underscored the necessity for shared responsibility in addressing migration issues, particularly those pertaining to the Darien Gap.

It is essential to understand that the ‘wall’ President Petro referred to was not a physical one but a metaphorical representation of the challenges, both logistical and humanitarian, associated with managing migration through the Darién Gap. Ambassador Murillo emphasized this point, stating that the president’s words had been misconstrued. The term ‘wall’ was used to symbolize the obstacles and barriers to managing migration, not a literal construction project.

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White House Denies U.S. Request for Darien Jungle Wall, Contradicting President Petro

The White House has denied President Gustavo Petro’s claim that the United States proposed the construction of a wall in the Darien jungle to deter migration to Central America and the United States.

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According to John Kirby, Joe Biden’s national security advisor, no such requests were made from the United States to Colombia regarding the issues raised by the Colombian head of state during his meeting with Colombian citizens in Queens, New York. Kirby also indicated that there was no initiative to build “physical barriers” at the Colombia-Panama border presented to the Colombian government. President Petro had previously stated that the United States wanted Colombia to address migration and build a wall-like structure, but this assertion was refuted by the White House.