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Petro's final Cuba visit amid US sanctions

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2026-08-03 14:57 UTC → 2026-08-03 17:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro began his last overseas trip on 31 July 2026, landing in Havana where he was received with military honors by President Miguel Díaz‑Canel. Over the next two days he denounced the United States’ “policy of strangulation” toward Cuba, urging President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to replace threats, blockades and the prospect of invasion with dialogue. Petro highlighted the humanitarian toll of the U.S. embargo, noting that about 15,000 Cuban children lack essential surgeries and that the oil and financial sanctions imposed in January 2026 have deepened fuel shortages, power outages and medical‑supply deficits. He praised Cuba’s long‑standing role in training Colombian doctors—more than 1,300 Colombian physicians have graduated from Cuban medical schools and 391 Colombian students were studying there at the time of his visit—and visited Colombian students at the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina. Petro called on the international community to show solidarity with Cuba, warning the United States must respect Cuban sovereignty and avoid any invasion, missile launch or further blockade. ~~Petro~~ He framed his appeal as a “dialogue of civilizations.” China’s foreign ministry issued a parallel statement urging the United States to cease coercive measures. Cuban officials thanked Colombia for its support, reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to peace processes in Colombia, and reiterated the ongoing training of Colombian medical students in Havana. The visit occurred as right‑wing president‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced plans to sever diplomatic ties with Cuba after taking office, and a car‑bomb attack in Cúcuta on 1 August injured ten people, including eight police officers. Petro prepared to leave office on 7 August.

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