Colombian President Gustavo Petro is expected in Haiti this Friday, July 18, 2025, for his second visit of the year. Petro plans to stay in Haiti until Saturday. The objective of this trip is "primarily to support Haiti's efforts to overcome the political, social, economic, and security crisis."

During his stay, President Petro will meet with the country's senior officials, whom he met on January 22 during a several-hour visit to Jacmel to strengthen bilateral relations. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44119-haiti-politic-brief-visit-of-colombian-president-gustavo-petro.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44129-haiti-jacmel-joint-declaration-of-the-axes-of-cooperation-between-haiti-and-colombia.html

The Colombian President believes that his country owes a debt of gratitude to Haiti for supporting its independence in the 19th century, and must therefore contribute to its pacification and reconstruction.

"The Caribbean needs peace, and there are risks of war, one of which is in Haiti. I hope Colombia will contribute to the pacification of Haiti for one fundamental reason : it was Haiti that provided the first ships, the first men, and the first weapons so that Colombia could achieve its independence from Spain," Petro said at an event in Medellín.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in a speech at the closing of the Hague Group meeting in Bogota, Petro reiterated his sympathy for Haiti, which "made the first revolution in the Americas," and also emphasized that "half of the Colombian flag is the flag of Haiti," due to its blue and red colors.

HL/ HaitiLibre