Rio de Janeiro.- Colombian President Gustavo Petro pledged to his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to leave office on August 6 and to promote a peaceful transition of government, the Brazilian Presidency reported this Thursday in a statement.
After indicating that he will leave office on August 6, Petro “reaffirmed his commitment to democracy and a peaceful transition in the country,” the Brazilian Presidency stated in a note informing about the telephone conversation that the two leaders held this Thursday morning.
Petro reaffirmed his commitment to hand over power despite having said that he does not recognize Abelardo de la Espriella, the winner of the June 21st elections in which he defeated his pro-government candidate, Iván Cepeda, as his successor.
The Colombian progressive leader has also said that his party, the Historic Pact, will file a lawsuit to annul the elections.
The conversation between Lula and Petro
Lula and Petro used their phone conversation to address issues on the bilateral agenda and “the political situation in Colombia,” as well as to highlight the progress they promoted by “working together.”
More Read
“The president of Brazil thanked the president of Colombia for the friendship and for the cooperation with Brazil and the Brazilian people,” the statement asserts.
According to the Brazilian Presidency, Petro demonstrated throughout his term a firm commitment to regional integration and to addressing the common challenges of South America.
“President Lula also highlighted Petro’s unwavering determination to promote environmental sustainability and the preservation of the Amazon, as well as his tireless commitment to confronting drug trafficking and transnational organized crime,” the note adds.
More Read
We recommend reading: Petro begins the last month of his term without recognizing his successor’s victory
The statement recalls that, in the three and a half years that Lula and Petro coincided as leaders, Colombia was one of the most visited countries by the Brazilian president, with five trips.
In addition to a State visit to Bogotá in 2024, Lula participated in Colombia in the summits of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the meetings of leaders between CELAC and the European Union and between CELAC and Africa.
Petro, for his part, made a state visit to Brasilia in 2025 and participated in Manaus in the inauguration of the International Police Cooperation Center.
The transition in Colombia
“Brazil and Colombia are united by a broad agenda of common interests and have only to gain if they continue working together,” the statement concluded.
Despite being in opposite ideological camps, Lula was one of the first Latin American leaders to recognize De La Espriella’s victory after the National Electoral Council released the final election count.
In a message on his social media, the Brazilian president stated that the “friendship” between Brazil and Colombia “transcends ideologies” and that this relationship is “fundamental” to address common challenges, such as the preservation of the Amazon, the reduction of poverty, and the fight against organized crime.
More Read
“May we continue working together for the benefit of our peoples,” pointed out Lula da Silva.
