Colombia's President Proposes International Army to Liberate Palestine
2025 | International Diplomacy & Middle East Affairs
A Bold Proposal at the World Stage
During his speech at the 79th United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2025, President Petro delivered what many are calling the most provocative address of the annual gathering. The Colombian leader didn't mince words as he criticized the international community's failure to resolve the decades-long conflict and presented his controversial solution.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro made his dramatic proposal during his UN General Assembly speech.
"The time for empty declarations has passed," Petro declared. "When diplomacy fails and human suffering continues unabated, the international community has not just the right but the moral obligation to intervene. Colombia stands ready to contribute 20,000 soldiers to an international force that will liberate Palestine from occupation and guarantee the Palestinian people their fundamental rights."
The Details of Petro's Proposal
President Petro's call for an international army represents a significant escalation in rhetoric from a sitting head of state. While the concept of international peacekeeping forces is well-established, the explicit framing as a "liberation army" marks a dramatic departure from conventional diplomatic language.
20,000 Colombian Troops
Colombia's pledged contribution represents a significant portion of its active military personnel.
Global Participation
The proposal calls for participation from nations worldwide, particularly from the Global South.
UN Mandate Sought
Petro emphasized the need for UN authorization for such a force to ensure international legitimacy.
Liberation Framework
The force would be tasked with ending occupation and ensuring Palestinian self-determination.
The Colombian leader framed his proposal within the context of what he described as the international community's failure to prevent what he called "the genocide in Gaza." He argued that traditional diplomatic channels had proven ineffective and that more direct action was necessary to protect Palestinian lives and rights.
International Reactions
The proposal has triggered sharply divided reactions across the international community, reflecting the deep polarization surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
| Region/Country | Reaction | Key Statements |
|---|---|---|
| Palestinian Authority | Cautious Welcome | "We appreciate any international initiative that addresses the suffering of our people, but we emphasize the importance of working within international law frameworks." |
| Israel | Strong Condemnation | "This irresponsible proposal constitutes a call for war against a sovereign nation. Colombia should focus on its own internal conflicts rather than promoting violence in our region." |
| United States | Rejection | "The United States firmly rejects any proposal for military intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We continue to believe in a negotiated two-state solution." |
| Arab Nations | Mixed Responses | While some nations welcomed the proposal as highlighting Palestinian suffering, others expressed concern about further militarization of the conflict. |
| European Union | Critical | "The EU believes that only a negotiated solution can bring lasting peace. Military interventions, even under international banners, risk escalating the conflict further." |
Within Latin America, reactions have also been divided, with left-leaning governments expressing varying degrees of support for the sentiment behind Petro's proposal, while more conservative governments in the region have distanced themselves from the idea.
Context: Colombia's Evolving Foreign Policy
President Petro's proposal represents the latest in a series of foreign policy shifts that have marked his presidency since taking office in 2022. A former guerrilla fighter turned politician, Petro has positioned Colombia as a vocal advocate for progressive causes on the global stage.
Colombia's Recent Stances on Palestine
- Diplomatic Break: In May 2024, Colombia severed diplomatic relations with Israel, citing "genocidal actions" in Gaza.
- Economic Measures: In June 2024, Colombia suspended coal exports to Israel in protest of its military operations in Gaza.
- International Forums: Colombia has emerged as a leading voice in international organizations criticizing Israel's actions.
- Regional Leadership: Petro has attempted to position Colombia as a moral leader in Latin America on human rights issues.
This latest proposal represents a significant escalation from these previous measures, moving from diplomatic and economic pressure to openly discussing military intervention. The shift reflects Petro's growing frustration with what he perceives as the ineffectiveness of conventional international mechanisms.
Practical Challenges and Legal Considerations
While dramatic in its scope, Petro's proposal faces significant practical and legal hurdles that experts say make its implementation highly unlikely in the near term.
Any international military force would require UN Security Council authorization, which would almost certainly be vetoed by the United States.
Finding sufficient international support for such a controversial mission would be extremely challenging.
Deploying and sustaining an international force in a conflict zone presents enormous practical challenges.
Neighboring countries' positions on hosting or supporting such a force would be crucial and uncertain.
International law experts have questioned the legality of Petro's proposed "liberation army," noting that while Chapter VII of the UN Charter allows for military intervention to maintain or restore international peace and security, the specific framing of "liberation" falls outside established peacekeeping paradigms.
Historical Precedents and Comparisons
While unprecedented in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Petro's proposal evokes historical examples of international military interventions in regional conflicts.
International forces have been deployed in various conflicts, but a "liberation army" would represent a new paradigm.
From the UN-authorized coalition in the Korean War (1950-1953) to more recent interventions in the Balkans and Libya, international military actions have taken various forms. However, experts note that these interventions typically enjoyed broader international consensus and clearer legal foundations than Petro's proposal currently possesses.
Conclusion: A Provocative Gesture With Uncertain Impact
President Gustavo Petro's call for an international army to liberate Palestine represents one of the most dramatic interventions in recent diplomatic history regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the practical implementation of such a force faces nearly insurmountable obstacles, the proposal's significance lies in its powerful symbolic challenge to the international status quo.
By framing the Palestinian issue in terms requiring military intervention rather than diplomatic negotiation, Petro has pushed the boundaries of acceptable discourse at the highest levels of international diplomacy. His speech reflects growing frustration among Global South leaders with what they perceive as Western hypocrisy and the failure of existing mechanisms to protect Palestinian rights.
While the proposed international liberation army may never materialize, Petro's intervention has succeeded in shifting the diplomatic conversation and highlighting the urgency that many nations feel about resolving a conflict that has persisted for decades with no end in sight. The proposal ensures that the Palestinian issue will remain at the forefront of international diplomacy, with increased pressure on all parties to find a just and lasting solution.