EBC - Agência Brasil
A new investigative report has revealed that aggressive diplomatic maneuvering by the United States was the decisive factor in halting Colombia’s ambitious plan to invoke the “Uniting for Peace” resolution at the United Nations. The initiative, championed by the administration of President Gustavo Petro, aimed to bypass the paralysis in the Security Council—where the US holds veto power—to mandate an immediate ceasefire and the potential deployment of a UN protection force in Gaza. The report details how Washington viewed this procedural move as a direct challenge to its diplomatic shield over Israel.
According to diplomatic sources cited in the report, US officials conveyed stark warnings to Bogotá, implying that proceeding with the resolution would trigger a severe review of bilateral cooperation, potentially impacting trade and security agreements. The “Uniting for Peace” mechanism (Resolution 377 A) is a rare emergency measure designed to transfer authority to the General Assembly when the Security Council fails to maintain international peace. The US State Department reportedly scrambled to pressure not only Colombia but also other potential co-sponsors in the Global South to withdraw support, effectively killing the motion before it could reach the floor.
The derailment of this initiative underscores the enduring reach of US influence over Latin American foreign policy, even as nations like Colombia seek to assert greater autonomy on the world stage. While President Petro has been one of the most vocal international critics of the military campaign in Gaza, describing it as a genocide, this incident exposes the structural limitations faced by smaller nations when confronting a superpower within the UN system. Critics argue that by blocking this legal avenue, the US has further insulated the conflict from international intervention, prioritizing its alliance with Israel over the consensus of the General Assembly.
Sources:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/28/petro-slam-us-pressure-over-un-gaza-resolution-attempt/ https://apnews.com/article/un-general-assembly-gaza-resolution-colombia-us-veto-2025-11-29
