Gustavo Petro Denies Cartel de los Soles Amid U.S. Drug Trafficking Probe and Legal Warnings from Congressman Giménez

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has denied the existence of the "Cartel de los Soles," describing it as a fictitious narrative used by the political right and imperialist forces to justify intervention in Venezuela. Petro acknowledged that drug traffickers in Europe and the Middle East use Venezuela as a transit route but rejected the notion of an organized cartel within the country. This stance has drawn criticism from various quarters, including U.S. Congressman Carlos Giménez, who warned that Petro could face legal consequences in the United States for allegedly cooperating with the cartel linked to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Journalist Ignacio Montes De Oca and political analyst Héctor Schamis have accused Petro of adopting Maduro's narrative and downplaying the reality of the cartel, which the U.S. government designates as a criminal organization. The U.S. Department of Justice has revealed investigations into drug trafficking air bridges originating from Venezuela. Former Bolivian President Tuto Quiroga urged the Venezuelan armed forces not to become complicit with the cartel. Petro responded to Giménez's warning by asserting that no foreign official has the right to judge a sitting president. The debate highlights ongoing tensions over the role of Venezuela in regional drug trafficking and the political implications of acknowledging or denying the cartel's existence.