President Petro announced a change in Colombia's military leadership

Published at: 28/12/2025 01:38 PM

This Sunday, the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro announced a series of changes at the top of the Military Forces in a movement that, he explained, responds to the challenges that the country will face in 2026. The statement was made through his account on the social network X, where he detailed the new configuration of the military high command.

In the General Command of the Military Forces, General Hugo Alejandro López Barreto was appointed general commander, replacing Admiral Francisco Cubides, while Vice Admiral Harry Ernesto Reyna Niño will assume as Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position held by General López.

In the National Army, the president announced the appointment of Major General Royer Gómez Herrera as commander, accompanied by Major General Jaime Alonso Galindo as second commander; with this change, General Luis Emilio Cardozo and General Erick Rodríguez come out.

Admiral Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón remains commander in the National Navy, with Vice Admiral Orlando Enrique Grisales Franceschi as second commander and chief of the Naval Staff. In the Colombian Aerospace Force, Major General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda will assume command, along with Major General Alfonso Lozano Ariza as second commander and chief of staff. General Luis Carlos Córdoba leaves the dome.

“Faced with the challenges of 2026, where security and democracy will be the priority, I have decided to make some changes in the military leadership. This is what the Commanders and Second Commanders of the Colombian Military Forces will look like,” said Petro.

Mazo News Team