Colombia's Gustavo Petro orders Navy to ban coal shipments to 'Israel'
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Petro accuses officials in his own administration of defying the earlier ban and continuing to authorize coal exports.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks during a meeting with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 20, 2023 (AP)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has intensified his stance against "Israel’s" military campaign in Gaza by ordering the Navy to intercept and block all coal shipments destined for "Israel", escalating a policy first enacted with a formal export ban in August 2024. Despite that ban, designed to protest what Petro has labeled a “genocidal” offensive, limited exceptions were granted for previously approved or customs-cleared shipments.
Last May, the Colombian President announced cutting ties with "Israel" for having a "genocidal" president. Petro later announced in June the suspension of coal exports to the occupation entity.
In a social media post at the time, he stated that exports would cease "until the genocide is stopped."
However, Petro now accuses officials in his own administration of defying the measure and continuing to authorize coal exports.
On July 24, Petro publicly condemned this defiance, announcing on social media that a coal shipment had again left for "Israel" and that the Navy would now be tasked with stopping such exports entirely. “Not a single ton of coal should leave Colombia for Israel,” he declared.
Unlawful shipments enabled under corporate pressure
He accused internal actors of enabling unlawful shipments under corporate pressure. Expressing his frustration, he warned, “If they don’t listen to us, then this government is a liar,” calling out what he sees as insubordination and institutional sabotage.
Petro has called on Colombian society to actively engage in the country’s coal export debate, urging Labor Minister Gloria Inés Ramírez to initiate an emergency dialogue with unions in the coal sector.
He also stressed the importance of consulting with indigenous communities, particularly the Wayúu people, who live near the Cerrejón mine in La Guajira. “A meeting should be held with the Wayúu indigenous authorities and other communities affected by coal mining,” Petro stated.
📸 | Desde Cartagena, el Presidente @PetroGustavo presentó las nuevas unidades navales de la @ArmadaColombia, entre ellas el buque hospital Benkos Biohó, que fortalecerá el modelo de atención en salud preventiva y primaria en todos los rincones del país.
— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) July 25, 2025
El anuncio se dio en el… pic.twitter.com/NzaP5C1OuE
