The communist former president Pedro Castillo called for war with the U.S. from prison.

During a hearing of his oral trial for the crime of rebellion, the communist former president of Peru,Pedro Castillo, made a controversial statement from Barbadillo prison, where he is being held in pretrial detention following his failed coup attempt in December 2022.

In his remarks, Castillo not only once again rejected the charges against him, but also used the judicial setting as a political platform to call for the unity of Latin American countries, summoning the presidents of Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil to "go to war" against the United States.

The former Peruvian president addressed leftist Latin American leaders such as the delusional Gustavo Petro, to whom he publicly requested joint action that, although couched in belligerent language, was presented as a "war" against crime, corruption, and the plundering of public resources.

Castillo denounces persecution and praises communist Petro.

"From here I call not only on President Petro, but also on the president of Chile, of Bolivia, of Brazil: let's go to war once and for all, but to that war that ends crime, corruption, and plundering," Castillo stated, despite repeated attempts by Judge Norma Carbajal to limit his remarks to points strictly related to the trial.

The former president also used his remarks to defend the Colombian president amid the diplomatic tension between Peru and Colombia over the sovereignty of Chinería Island, a recent territorial dispute that has heightened tensions between the two countries.

Castillo criticized Peruvian authorities who, according to him, lack "moral authority" to question leaders like Petro, and denounced what he considers political persecution against him. "They want to put Petro on trial, when in Peru there are authorities who aren't welcomed in any public square," the communist said, alluding to the unpopularity of some Peruvian officials.

The 2022 self-coup attempt.

These statements by Castillo are part of an increasingly combative political discourse from his cell, in which he attempts to reactivate his image as a leader of the most marginalized sectors to save himself from prison.

It is worth recalling that the former president was arrested on December 7, 2022, after announcing the dissolution of Congress, the reorganization of the judicial system, and the implementation of an emergency government, measures with a clear authoritarian component that were aimed at undermining Peruvian democracy.

After his failed attempt to seek asylum at the Mexican embassy in Lima, he was detained and has remained in pretrial detention since then while facing multiple judicial proceedings for rebellion and conspiracy.