Mr. President Gustavo Petro: Lead the actions of solidarity with the Cuban people.

Today the Cuban people are the victims of a merciless, unjustified aggression, in violation of all norms, not only international law, but also the minimum respect for national self-determination.

The blockade that the U.S. government is imposing to force political decisions that only the Cuban people, in their sovereignty, have the right to make, such as a modification of their political regime -which we do not support- and reactionary economic transformations, need not be respected by other nations.

You, Mr. President, who raised your voice loudly against the genocide in Gaza, who adopted measures to try to stop it, are morally and politically obliged to lead the humanitarian actions of support and solidarity with the Cuban people in this fateful hour of their existence.

The Cuban revolution, before you were born, Mr. President, unleashed an effervescence of struggle and mobilization in Latin America such as had never been seen since the time of independence from the Spanish empire. You vindicate the epic liberation from the Spanish empire, raising Bolivar’s sword high in the public squares. You should likewise vindicate the epic liberation of the Cuban revolution, which cut ties with the U.S. empire, liberated its people and initiated an era of socialist transformations that generated hope and illusion in millions across Latin America and the world.

You have a moral commitment with the Cuban people. You became a revolutionary in the heat of that revolution, and the M-19, which you also vindicate, enjoyed invaluable and constant solidarity and support from the Cuban people; you know ithis well. We remind you only of the welcome given to your militants when, after the seizure of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic, you negotiated their transfer to Cuba. But not only that. Cuba and your government have facilitated, for decades, all successful or failed attempts at peace negotiations with armed groups in Colombia. That is a debt owed by the Colombian people to the people of Cuba.

Today we make a proposal: without raising a war plan, much less a war to the death, the sword of Bolivar should lead and direct the actions of solidarity with the Cuban people to break the blockade to which they are being subjected. Demand that Ecopetrol immediately gather a fleet of oil tankers that, in addition to oil, will take humanitarian aid and alternative energy systems to Cuba. Announce that you will lead that flotilla, in a plan of peace and solidarity, without weapons, without swords, without airplanes, without eloquent speeches. Only that you will go to Cuba to deliver that solidarity. Publicly ask the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, to accompany you leading similar flotillas.

We are sure that, if you decides to do so, the peoples of Latin America and the world will accompany you and your action will go down in history as a more grandiose deed than raising Bolivar’s sword in the public square.

We await your response, Mr. President.

Sincerely yours,