[Statement of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform]
US imperialism and fascist forces are attempting to seize power in Colombia. Colombia is approaching the second round of its presidential election on June 21. In the first round held on May 31, the pro-U.S. fascist candidate Espriella finished in first place but failed to secure an absolute majority.
At that time, US Republican Senator Moreno entered Colombia as part of an international observer delegation together with more than 80 US officials. Before any judicial verification of the election results had been completed, he recklessly declared that “democracy has won in Colombia.” This was a blatant violation of Colombia’s regulation stipulating that election observers must not express political opinions or evaluations on election day. The assessment by a US-based Latin America policy institute that “during Colombia’s first-round presidential election, the United States broke with the traditional diplomatic norm of neutrality and directly backed a specific candidate. Republican politicians participated in large numbers as observers in order to legitimize and strengthen the right-wing candidate Espriella’s victory” is an undeniable fact.
The vicious methods through which US imperialism has recently interfered in elections and violated the sovereignty of various Latin American countries have reached their peak in the current Colombian presidential election. The reason is that until the election of Colombia’s current president, Gustavo Petro, in 2022, Colombia served as a forward operating base for US imperialist domination throughout Latin America. Using Colombia as a strategic base, US imperialism manipulated military forces and drug cartels from behind the scenes in order to dominate and plunder the region. As the “Pink Tide” gained momentum across Latin America following Petro’s rise to power, the Trump administration has frantically pursued regime-change operations: brutally kidnapping President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, a key anti-imperialist country; intensifying isolation, sanctions, and blockade measures against socialist Cuba; and openly interfering in Colombia’s presidential election. All of this is aimed at recolonizing Latin America and reducing it once again to the “backyard” of the United States.
The Colombian far right has openly presented itself as a fascist proxy of imperialism even before taking power. Espriella has declared that, if elected, he will immediately strengthen Colombia’s “alliance” with the United States. As history has repeatedly shown, such an “alliance” is merely a façade; its essence is colonial subordination. Furthermore, Espriella has announced plans to deploy the military to so-called “security crisis zones” and impose a state of emergency that would bypass normal judicial procedures, openly signaling the establishment of a brutal Bukele-style fascist regime. The fact that he can make such fascistic declarations so openly is made possible by the public support he receives from US President Trump and by electoral interference from pro-US fascist governments in Latin America, including Ecuador. In addition, detailed allegations have emerged that pro-US comprador oligarchs allied with Espriella have manipulated vote-counting software. The fate of the Colombian people now stands at a crossroads between independence and subjugation, democracy and fascism.
Anti-imperialist independence is the will and aspiration of the Colombian people. While fascist judicial authorities seek to silence even the statements of President Petro, and while imperialist and fascist-controlled media manipulate public opinion in favor of fascism, Colombia’s grassroots masses are rallying firmly around progressive forces in defense of anti-imperialist sovereignty and democracy. Since the Bogotazo uprising of 1948, the Colombian people have spent decades overcoming military dictatorship and the white terror of fascist forces, advancing steadily toward national independence and liberation. Given their long and proud history of resistance, it is only natural that the Colombian people should rise in anti-imperialist and anti-fascist struggle against the challenge posed by imperialist and fascist forces. The just Colombian people, together with the peoples of Latin America, will defeat imperialism and fascism through anti-imperialist and anti-fascist struggle, crush attempts at recolonization, and achieve independence, democracy, and peace throughout Latin America.
A united people can never be defeated!
US imperialism, hands off Colombia!
June 18, 2026
World Anti-imperialist Platform
