Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrived in Havana on Friday (July 31) for his final international trip before handing over power on August 7, meeting Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel at the Palacio de la Revolucion to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Petro, accompanied by Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal, also paid tribute to Cuban national hero Jose Marti in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Jose Marti Memorial in Revolution Square.

The visit offers Havana a rare show of support from a sitting Latin American leader at a time when Cuba is grappling with fuel shortages, power outages and strained ties with Washington.

Cuban officials have repeatedly blamed U.S. sanctions for the island's economic crisis, while critics say the government's own policies have worsened the hardship.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

HAVANA, CUBA (JULY 31, 2026) (POOL - Access all)

1. COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO ARRIVING AT THE JOSE MARTI MONUMENT ALONGSIDE CUBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER JOSEFINA SANDOVAL

2. VARIOUS OF PETRO AT WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE JOSE MARTI MONUMENT

3. HONOUR GUARD BAND PLAYING MUSIC

4. VARIOUS OF PETRO AT WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE JOSE MARTI MONUMENT

5. HONOUR GUARDS SALUTING NEXT TO WREATH

6. PETRO APPROACHING WREATH

7. PETRO ARRANGING RIBBONS

8. PETRO ENTERING PALACE OF THE REVOLUTION NEXT TO CUBAN PRESIDENT MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL

9. VARIOUS OF WELCOME CEREMONY AT PALACE OF THE REVOLUTION

10. VARIOUS OF PETRO AND DIAZ-CANEL WALKING TOGETHER

11. DIAZ-CANEL GREETING ATTENDEES