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By Gabe Whisnant
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro says he survived an assassination attempt Monday night while traveling by helicopter.
Petro told a live-streamed cabinet meeting on Tuesday that his helicopter could not land at its planned Caribbean coast destination because of credible fears that people “were going to shoot” at the aircraft. As a result, the helicopter flew out to open sea for about four hours before reaching safety, he said, describing the detour as narrowly escaping a planned attack.
The president did not name any suspects or groups behind the alleged attempt, and Colombian officials have not publicly identified individuals connected to the incident. Months of warnings about plots linked to drug trafficking networks and other armed groups have preceded the reported attempt, Petro said, though specific evidence tying any group to the Monday night incident has not been disclosed.
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Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department via email on Tuesday afternoon for comment.
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Drug Traffickers and Armed Groups Cited as Threats
Petro has repeatedly linked threats to his life with criminal organizations, including narcotraffickers and dissident armed groups, amid Colombia’s ongoing internal security challenges. Government security sources previously reported that illegal armed factions such as dissidents of the FARC guerrilla, the National Liberation Army (ELN), and Gulf Clan paramilitaries have been implicated in plots against the president’s life. These groups, which reject peace agreements and remain active in coca-producing regions, have been blamed for violence throughout the country.
Though the specific Monday night event occurred offshore, past alleged threats include reports of anti-tank weapons near the presidential palace and plots targeting Petro’s aircraft with surface-to-air missiles, allegations that have drawn both domestic controversy and skepticism from critics due to limited public evidence.
Political Context and Ongoing Violence
The incident comes amid a tense political landscape in Colombia, where violent threats against public figures and political violence have periodically erupted. In June 2025, senator and presidential pre-candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was fatally shot during a campaign event, an incident unrelated to Petro’s claims but indicative of broader security concerns surrounding the 2026 electoral cycle.
Security forces have previously acted on alleged plots against Petro, including killing a suspect accused of planning to assassinate him in a 2025 operation in Valle del Cauca. That operation targeted a member of the Gulf Clan trafficking gang and resulted in the seizure of weapons and ammunition.
Colombia’s government has not released a formal threat assessment related to the helicopter incident, and national security officials have provided limited detail beyond the president’s remarks. Investigations into the reported attempt are ongoing as authorities seek to confirm the nature and origin of the threat.
Alleged Plot Follows Trump-Petro Meeting
President Donald Trump held a nearly two-hour meeting last week with Petro that both leaders described as friendly, marking a sharp shift from weeks earlier when Trump accused Petro of fueling cocaine trafficking into the United States and threatened military action against Colombia.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump sought to play down his previous criticism, saying he had not known Petro personally at the time. “He and I weren’t exactly the best of friends, but I wasn’t insulted because I never met him. I didn’t know him at all,” Trump said.
“We had a very good meeting,” Trump added during an Oval Office event. “I thought he was terrific.”
Petro later held his own news conference, saying the two leaders left the meeting “with a positive and optimistic view.” He said their discussion was grounded in shared values, adding, “What brings us together is freedom. And that’s how the meeting started out.”
Updates: 2/10/26, 6:41 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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