Bogotá, March 18, 2026 – The Europe Today: Colombian President Gustavo Petro and French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation on Tuesday to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East, according to a statement issued by Colombia’s presidency.
The discussion, which lasted more than 30 minutes, focused on efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote peace in the conflict-affected region.
During the call, President Macron expressed appreciation for Petro’s ongoing peace initiatives and underscored the importance of achieving a ceasefire and advancing dialogue as the only viable path to ending the conflict.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, President Petro said that Macron had agreed to support efforts aimed at expanding the number of countries advocating for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
“Macron will help us expand the number of countries seeking an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East,” Petro stated.
The conversation comes amid continued hostilities in the region, as Israel and the United States have maintained a joint offensive on Iran since February 28. The ongoing conflict has reportedly resulted in approximately 1,300 deaths so far.
In response, Iran has carried out retaliatory drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf countries hosting US military assets. The escalation has led to casualties, damage to infrastructure, and significant disruptions to global markets and aviation.
Both leaders emphasized the urgency of coordinated international efforts to contain the crisis and restore stability through diplomatic means.
