Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the interception of all coal shipments bound for Israel, intensifying his country's protest against the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza.
The decision, announced on Friday, reflects Colombia’s growing stance on the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Speaking from Cartagena, a coastal city on the Caribbean Sea, President Petro declared that no coal would be exported to Israel under his command as the head of the armed forces.
He stated that Colombia would not be complicit in what he described as acts of genocide, highlighting a firm policy shift in support of Palestinian civilians affected by the war.
The announcement was made during a ceremony to unveil new naval units under the NavadaColombia program, including a health-focused vessel, aimed at improving preventive and primary healthcare access across Colombia. The event also marked the 202nd anniversary of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo and Colombia’s National Navy Day.
Earlier in the week, President Petro had threatened to unilaterally alter the coal concession contract with mining giant Glencore if the company continued exporting to Israel.
In response, Glencore confirmed it had already ceased shipments in compliance with the president’s directive. The company told Reuters that its Cerrejón coal mine had stopped exports to Israel nearly two weeks before the ban took effect.
Located in La Guajira in northeastern Colombia, the Cerrejón mine is one of the largest open-pit coal export mines globally. It is connected by a 150-kilometre railway line to a Caribbean port, making it a significant hub in Colombia’s coal export industry.
President Petro also warned that if Glencore failed to comply with the decision, local communities near the mine might be mobilized to enforce a blockade.