Gustavo Petro, Colombian President, at the UN podium / DR ‹ › On Thursday, January 1st, Colombia officially commenced its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Notably, this South American nation is the only one among the current fifteen members to have recognized the self-proclaimed «Sahrawi Republic» back in 1976. In a statement issued on Thursday, Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not list defending the Polisario's positions among its priorities for the 2026-2027 term. «Colombia is committed to engaging in proactive diplomacy to enhance trust among Council members, fostering dialogue, and seeking consensus. In line with President Gustavo Petro's government policy, Colombia will adopt an approach that respects human dignity, promotes conflict resolution through dialogue, and strives for a more equitable international order», emphasized Bogotá's diplomatic stance. It is important to note that since assuming office in August 2022, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has emerged as a supporter of the Polisario on the international stage. Under his administration, Colombia reestablished its relations with the «SADR» shortly after he took office. Last November, during a meeting in Bogotá with the Polisario's representative, Mohamed Zrug, President Petro advocated for a referendum in Western Sahara. The statement from Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which omits any mention of the Polisario or Palestine, comes at a particularly sensitive political juncture for President Petro. Colombia is gearing up for presidential elections next summer, while also grappling with escalating regional tensions, particularly the looming threat of conflict between the United States and Venezuela, Bogotá's main regional ally under Nicolas Maduro's leadership. In December, Donald Trump declared that Petro «will be the next target» in his campaign against drug trafficking, which initially focused on Venezuela. «Petro better watch out, because there are drug labs in his country,» Trump remarked during a press conference.
