President Gustavo Petro again protested US bombings in the Caribbean during the christening of the oceanic patrol boat ARC ‘24 de Julio’, Colombia's largest domestically built vessel. He handed it over to the National Navy and highlighted its role in seizing cocaine shipments. He also called for developing national arms production.
On March 29, 2026, President Gustavo Petro handed over the oceanic patrol boat ARC ‘24 de Julio’ to Colombia's National Navy, built domestically by Cotecmar. While some parts were imported due to lacking local technology, Petro praised the long-standing national efforts.
During the ceremony, Petro renewed his criticism of US bombings in the Caribbean. "No más bombardeos en el Caribe, la cocaína va por submarino sus propietarios han hecho acuerdos judiciales con EEUU. Nuestro nuevo buque ayudará a incautar más cargamentos", he posted on social media.
Petro urged expanding national arms production to include intelligence, rifles, drones, anti-drones, and planes. He pointed to examples like the United States, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, which produces Gripen fighter jets. "Tenemos que desarrollarla en las demás armas, la inteligencia colombiana, la fusilería colombiana, la tecnología puesta al servicio de la defensa nacional", he stated.
He advocated for a national debate on producing weapons with Colombia's collective intelligence, building on humanity's accumulated knowledge. He also messaged Antioquia's governor, inviting dialogue over force to improve community conditions.
