Bogota: Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged Venezuela to pursue 'more democracy, not more repression,' saying broader political inclusion and a national pact, not military mobilization, are essential to defending the country amid rising regional tensions. In remarks shared on US social media company X on Wednesday, Petro said Maduro's government must recognize that 'the response to an external aggression is not just military mobilization but a democratic revolution.'

According to Anadolu Agency, Petro emphasized that it is through democracy that a nation can be defended, rather than through ineffective repressions. He called for a 'general amnesty, not extending the prison.' Drawing a historical comparison, Petro highlighted how European nations defeated Nazi Germany through a broad political and social pact that expanded workers' rights, social security, and economic participation after the war. Soldiers from the US, Soviet Union, and various European resistance movements fought with the expectation of a more democratic society in Europe.

Petro further elaborated that the key issue in Venezuela is the need for more democracy. He urged the creation of a transitional government that includes everyone. He referred to Venezuela as 'Bolivar's homeland' and stressed that it should not be subjected to 'foreign invasion, empty rhetoric or soul prisons.' Petro insisted that Venezuela's defense lies in more democracy and sovereignty.

The opposition in Venezuela has claimed that last July's presidential election, in which Maduro won a third term, was rigged. The US, which has now deployed military assets in the Caribbean and has accused the president of sending lethal drugs to the country, rejected the vote.