Petro defends Swedish Gripen deal, slams US pressure
2 Min Read
Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticizes reported US sanctions targeting his inner circle and defends his decision to buy Gripen fighter jets from Sweden instead of US F-16s, warning against interference in Colombia’s sovereignty.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks during the swearing-in ceremony of Gen. William Rincon as the new national police director in Bogota, Colombia, on October 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has responded to a report published by El Tiempo, warning of potential expanded sanctions by the United States against individuals close to his administration, including First Lady Verónica Alcocer, who is already listed on the Clinton List, officially known as the OFAC list.
The article also revealed that at least 10 companies refused to supply fuel to the presidential plane FAC-001 during Petro’s recent official tour to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, allegedly due to his inclusion on the list.
According to unnamed sources in Washington cited by the report, a "second phase" of sanctions is under consideration. This phase may involve investigations into the assets and financial transactions of individuals linked to Petro and the first lady.
In response to the article, President Petro denounced what he described as "two terrible things": surveillance of his family and the discontent of certain US officials with Colombia’s decision to purchase Gripen fighter jets from Sweden instead of acquiring third-hand F-16 aircraft offered by Washington.
Este artículo del Tiempo solo demuestra dos cosas ambas terribles.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) November 2, 2025
1. EEUU ha seguido a mi familia.
2. El tema de la rabia de funcionarios del gobierno estadounidense, en primer lugar, parece ser que no compre los F16 de tercera mano que me ofreció EEUU sino que me decidí por…
The president took to social media to defend the acquisition process of the Swedish Gripen aircraft, stating that the deal was transparent and conducted entirely within the framework of Colombian law.
Allegations of US surveillance and political retaliation
Petro emphasized that Sweden "is not a terrorist country nor are its manufacturers drug traffickers." He added, "Don’t force me to buy Russian planes then. We are sovereign; we are not obligated to acquire second- or third-hand weapons for our armed forces."
He argued that the report not only reflects interference in Colombia’s defense decisions but also signals unjust pressure from the US in retaliation for a sovereign procurement choice.
Petro called on both the Kingdom of Sweden and Saab, the manufacturer of the Gripen aircraft, to speak out in defense of Colombia’s right to conduct sovereign military acquisitions without facing political or economic reprisals.
Drawing parallels to the political climate in Brazil, Petro remarked: "They also tried to criminalize Lula for the same thing," and concluded his statement with: "Business, Business."
