Author: Unknown
Published on: 04/02/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
A late-night social media message in Colombia sparked a diplomatic crisis. President Gustavo Petro had taken to the platform X in the wee hours of the morning to criticise the United States for its handling of deportations. In a subsequent post, Petro demanded that the migrants be returned on civilian aircraft. Sergio Guzmán says the incident was widely perceived as a black eye for Petro. "Petro made a big miscalculation in terms of the strength with which Trump would respond," he says. The spat with Trump comes as Petro enters the final full year of his presidency. Colombia is rudderless in terms of its foreign policy, says Guzmán. The two allies have fought a "war on drugs" together, and since 2017 the US has offered an estimated $1.5bn in aid for Colombia’s peace process. But despite this tight relationship, Petro’s confrontation with Trump set alarm bells ringing in Colombia. "This episode really highlights the need for Colombia to diversify its alliances," Guzmán says. "To do that, Colombia would really have to have a sophisticated and long-term view of foreign policy, which it does not" Petro had faced backlash in the US, his drug-policy reforms have repeatedly put him at odds with Washington. Corruption allegations surrounding Petro's son and financing of his 2022 presidential campaign have further eroded confidence. Petro’s base sees resistance to Trump’s hardline policies as an assertion of national sovereignty. This could hurt Petro-aligned candidates in 2026, especially if economic anxieties persist.
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