Nicolás Maduro says Marco Rubio is leading a 'plan to overthrow Gustavo Petro'; Colombian president responds

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro accused the United States on Wednesday of masterminding an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Gustavo Petro. The Colombian president has already stated that a "far-right" leader in the country is linked to this plot.

Maduro made the accusations during the inauguration ceremony of Zulia State Governor Luis Caldera, referring to the public order situation in the country following the attack on presidential candidate Miguel Uribe in Bogotá and the bomb attacks this Tuesday in the departments of Cauca and Valle.

The Chavista leader claimed that the alleged plan is directed by Marco Rubio, Secretary of State of the United States in the Donald Trump administration.

He also said that the network seeks to deploy criminal gangs and instil terrorism in Colombia with the goal of "bringing back a far-right government."

"You see what's happening in Colombia, right? They've activated a plan to overthrow the government of President Gustavo Petro. It's a plan being directed by Marco Rubio from the United States and its goal is to fill all of Colombia with criminal gangs, criminal violence, and terrorism, to overthrow the progressive government of President Gustavo Petro and impose a scenario for the return of an extreme right-wing, neo-fascist government. That's the truth," Maduro said during the event.

Its purpose is to fill all of Colombia with criminal gangs, criminal violence, and terrorism, in order to overthrow the government.

🇻🇪🇨🇴 | LATEST: Nicolás Maduro denounced a "US plan to overthrow President Gustavo Petro" in Colombia: "It is being directed by Marco Rubio." pic.twitter.com/TK8mjWauYA

— World Alert (@AlertaMundoNews) June 12, 2025

During his speech, the Chavista leader said that, given this situation, Venezuela must fine-tune its tools to ensure the border state of Zulia is free of "hitmen, mafias, and drug traffickers."

"Whoever falls, a firm hand against crime and criminality. Peace, peace, and peace for the people of Zulia. Yes, we can have a country at peace, yes, we can," he added.

President Gustavo Petro's response was swift. This Wednesday, during a speech from Cali, the head of state addressed Maduro's claims and said they have evidence that a "far-right" leader is reportedly speaking with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio with the aim of overthrowing the executive branch.

He also indicated that this person was also allying himself with drug traffickers to carry out a coup d'état in Colombia.

" I also have information and know that a certain leader of the far right in Colombia has been speaking with the Secretary of State. I also know that there is a recording out there in which a certain leader of the far right in Colombia, who is not (Álvaro) Uribe, is allied with drug traffickers seeking to have far-right forces in Colombia and the United States carry out a coup d'état in Colombia," the president stated.

The president requested the release of the recordings, which he claimed showed a leader trying to overthrow his government, but asserted that the Colombian people "will not allow their independence to be taken away."

"Here, we're not afraid of that. Here, we know that the people of Colombia are the people of Bolívar, a libertarian people," he emphasized.

Petro also took the opportunity to send a message to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asserting that the U.S. government should be committed to engaging with Latin American workers.

"What they have to do is enter into dialogue with those (Latin American) peoples because wealth only comes from work, and if they take away workers, they will become impoverished," he concluded.

"A neighboring president says that Mr. Marco Rubio is organizing a coup against me. I only tell the Secretary of State of the United States that I cannot believe that the Democratic people and that they believe the amendments to the United States Constitution and that today… pic.twitter.com/Efhapa1kce

— Red+ News (@RedMasNoticias) June 12, 2025

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