President Gustavo Petro defended the asylum granted to former President Ricardo Martinelli on Monday, May 12, stating that Colombia should be a place of refuge, just as Panama was.

Petro offered his statements to a group of journalists accompanying him on a tour of the People’s Republic of China.

“Colombia should be, like Panama, a place of refuge, freedom, and free expression,” Petro insisted when asked about the asylum granted to Martinelli, who has a 10-year, 8-month prison sentence for the New Business case.

At 7:44 p.m. this Saturday, May 10, Martinelli traveled to Colombia after leaving the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama, where he has sought asylum since February 7, 2024.

Upon arriving in Bogotá, Martinelli thanked Nicaragua, Panama, and Colombia for the asylum that allowed him to travel on his private plane with a small entourage.

According to the former president, he managed to save his life by seeking asylum at the diplomatic headquarters, but he did not specify who wanted to kill him.

This Monday, Petro insisted that Panama and Colombia should join forces, even though they are no longer a nation as they once were. “Panama and Colombia should join forces; we want to attract the Panamanian people,” he insisted.

The president emphasized that Panama and Colombia should consider a confederation of nations, with a strong sovereignty, “to take advantage of their geographical and historical position.”