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Rafael Correa reveals that a Colombian airline refused to transport Gustavo Petro to Mexico; how did the former president travel?
CO🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/3/2026

Rafael Correa reveals that a Colombian airline refused to transport Gustavo Petro to Mexico; how did the former president travel?

Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa revealed that a Colombian airline refused to transport former Colombian President Gustavo Petro to Mexico due to his inclusion on the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC sanctions list. During an interview, Correa stated that Avianca denied the flight to avoid U.S. penalties. Petro confirmed the refusal but explained he traveled via AeroMéxico using his diplomatic passport and proper authorization from the Senate. The U.S. added Petro to the OFAC list in October 2025, citing concerns over increased cocaine production under his administration. The Treasury emphasized that financial institutions face sanctions for engaging with individuals on the list.

Ecuador's former President Rafael Correa revealed that a Colombian airline refused to transport current President Gustavo Petro to Mexico. During an interview with Petro, Correa stated that the decision was linked to Petro’s inclusion in the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list, which restricts transactions involving designated individuals. As a result, the airline Avianca denied Petro's travel request to avoid potential sanctions under U.S. law. Petro confirmed the refusal, stating, "They didn't want to." According to investigations by SEMANA, Petro traveled to Mexico on August 30 aboard flight AM 762 operated by AeroMéxico, bound for Mexico City. He presented his diplomatic passport at Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport and was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sources indicated that Petro was required to show authorization for departure, which he claimed had already been processed. He presented documentation from a Senate session authorizing his exit for one year. This was verified with the Secretary General of the Senate, who confirmed no further authorizations were needed. Petro departed at 3:55 p.m. local time on a Boeing 737. His trip marked his first international journey since leaving office in August. In Mexico City, he met with President Claudia Sheinbaum and delivered a speech at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The U.S. Treasury added Petro to the OFAC list on October 24, 2025, citing concerns over increased cocaine production in Colombia during his presidency. At the time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Petro of allowing drug cartels to thrive and failing to curb narcotics trafficking. The department emphasized that financial institutions face penalties for engaging in transactions involving listed individuals. Petro has criticized the OFAC list, arguing it is used to target political opponents.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

2 reports

Semana logoSemanaIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 709/3/2026
Rafael Correa reveals that a Colombian airline refused to transport Gustavo Petro to Mexico; how did the former president travel?

Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa revealed that a Colombian airline refused to transport former Colombian President Gustavo Petro to Mexico due to his inclusion on the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC sanctions list. During an interview, Correa stated that Avianca denied the flight to avoid U.S. penalties. Petro confirmed the refusal but explained he traveled via AeroMéxico using his diplomatic passport and proper authorization from the Senate. The U.S. added Petro to the OFAC list in October 2025, citing concerns over increased cocaine production under his administration. The Treasury emphasized that financial institutions face sanctions for engaging with individuals on the list.

Bias read (Center): The article presents both Correa’s claims and Petro’s responses, along with official statements from the U.S. Treasury regarding the OFAC sanctions. It does not favor one side over the other and includes direct quotes from multiple parties involved, maintaining neutrality in framing.

Why factuality (85): The article reports on Rafael Correa revealing that an Colombian airline refused to transport Gustavo Petro due to his inclusion in OFAC. It cites specific dates, airlines, and mentions the OFAC listing from October 2025. While the exact date of Petro’s inclusion in OFAC is stated as 2025, this may

Why objectivity (70): The article presents the information from Correa’s perspective, which frames the situation as a consequence of U.S. unilateral measures. This introduces a political bias by implying that the OFAC list is used to target political opponents. The tone leans toward criticism of U.S. policy, which affect

El Espectador logoEl EspectadorIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 409/1/2026
Did Peter keep his promises, or did he leave us with nothing?

The article discusses whether President Gustavo Petro has fulfilled his promises or failed to bring about meaningful change in Colombia. It appears to be an opinion piece or analysis titled 'La Pulla,' which likely evaluates Petro's performance in office based on his campaign pledges. The article does not provide specific details but raises questions about his governance and the impact of his policies. Given the lack of concrete information, the discussion remains open-ended, inviting debate among readers.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a question rather than taking a clear stance, suggesting a balanced approach to evaluating Petro's leadership. There is no evident slant toward either supporting or criticizing Petro directly, making the framing neutral.

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (40): The tone is provocative and leans toward skepticism, suggesting a biased perspective. The phrasing 'nos dejó sin cambio' implies a negative judgment without supporting evidence, indicating an emotionally charged and one-sided approach.

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