Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly denied the existence of the so-called "Cartel de los Soles," a criminal organization that the United States designates as terrorist and alleges is led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Petro described the cartel as a fictional excuse used by the far right and imperialist forces to justify intervention and undermine governments that do not comply with their interests. He proposed a joint effort between the U.S. and Venezuela to dismantle what he called the "Junta del Narcotráfico." Petro acknowledged that drug traffickers in Europe and the Middle East use Venezuela as a transit route for narcotics but maintained that the cartel itself does not exist. Petro's statements have drawn sharp criticism from U.S. Congressman Carlos Giménez, who warned that Petro could face legal charges in the United States for allegedly cooperating with the cartel. Giménez labeled Petro's remarks as "extremely serious" and accused him of aligning with a transnational drug trafficking enterprise. Petro responded by asserting that no one has the right to judge a president. Other commentators have accused Petro of adopting the narrative of Maduro's government. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Colombia, Venezuela, and the United States over drug trafficking and political legitimacy in the region.