Gustavo Petro: Colombia’s former rebel fighter turned president

Al JazeeraCenterEN 20 min read 100% complete by Niko VorobyovJanuary 26, 2026 at 03:41 PM

AI Summary

long article 20 min

Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first left-wing president elected in 2022, has a long history of fighting for a more equitable Colombia. Beginning as a rebel with the M-19, he later became a senator exposing ties between politicians and paramilitary groups, facing death threats for his efforts. Throughout his career, Petro has consistently advocated for peace, land reform, and environmental issues. As president, he aims to lead Colombia in a more equitable and eco-friendly direction. He has also been an outspoken critic of US foreign policy in Latin America. Despite his long-held ideals, Petro has faced challenges in implementing his policies during his term.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Washington, DC 30% Alejandro Gaviria 40% Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) 40% Venezuela 40% Nicolás Maduro 40% Colombian Senate 40% Donald Trump ×250% Sanho Tree ×250% United States ×260% M-19 70% Colombia ×580% Gustavo Petro ×890%

Keywords

gustavo petro 100% colombia 90% president 80% rebel fighter 70% left-wing politics 60% political reform 60% land reform 50% armed conflict 50% peace 50% environmental issues 40%