Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated at the United Nations on September 24th, 2025, that the assertion of the Aragua train being terrorist is a "lie," describing them as "common criminals." He further criticized the policy of blocking Venezuela and retaining its oil as a "stupid idea." Petro's remarks, made during the reporting window of 12:06 AM to 1:06 AM UTC, come amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had proposed a state of national exception just before this period, citing "external threats" and international pressure, following U.S. President Donald Trump's vows to "erase your existence" from Venezuelan drug trafficking networks. This development follows U.S. military movements, including the USS Dunham being sighted near the Venezuelan coast and a U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III observed heading south from Oceana, Virginia. Venezuelan Defense Minister Padrino López had previously accused President Trump of "supremacism" in response to his statements concerning Chavista militias.
