President Gustavo Petro Urges Unblock of Venezuela to Curb Dangerous Darien Gap Crossings

President Gustavo Petro Urges Unblock of Venezuela to Curb Dangerous Darien Gap Crossings

During an event in New York, President Gustavo Petro emphasized that unblocking Venezuela would deter people from attempting to cross the perilous Darien Gap. He stressed the importance of enabling the delivery of medicines and food to the country.

Petro recently held a meeting with the Colombian community residing in New York, U.S. This event marked his first official engagement in the city, coinciding with his participation in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. In this meeting, the head of state highlighted the themes of his upcoming speech at the assembly. Notably, migration was one of the main talking points, particularly in light of the situation in the Darién gap where there has been a significant increase in people on the move.

According to President Petro, the ceaseless issue of migration can only be addressed effectively when prosperity is achieved. He believes that poverty and the loss of water due to the climate crisis block societies, leading to the displacement of millions. He argued that if Venezuela, a key point of transit for many migrants, is unblocked, people would no longer need to pass through the Darién gap. He asserted that this action, he believes, would also benefit Colombia, which could then trade the products grown within its territory.

Venezuela: A Key Factor in Migration

Petro stressed that the situation in Venezuela plays a significant role in the migration crisis. He suggested that removing blockades could benefit not just the South Amrica country, but also neighboring countries like Colombia. He is of the view that to curb migration, prosperity must be achieved, and countries must be unblocked to allow for the flow of essential goods and services. His main message, therefore, centers on the need for prosperity and unblocking countries as a solution to the migration crisis.

Colombian head of state also expressed deep concern about the environmental crisis, particularly the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. He criticized the war on drugs, which he believes has led to environmental destruction due to the use of harmful substances like glyphosate. He pointed out that the war on drugs has been ongoing for 40 years and has not been won, leading to the death of the rainforest and the failure of democracies. He called for an end to the irrational war on drugs, arguing that reducing drug use requires the construction of a better, more supportive society.

Petro’s Call to Action

In addition, President Petro called for rational and responsible action from world leaders, highlighting the failure of efforts to combat the climate crisis and the use of wars as excuses for inaction. He urged a dialogue with Latin America to end conflicts and promote peace, emphasizing that only through peace can life on our planet be preserved, and that it must be accompanied by social, economic, and environmental justice.