How will the disagreements between Petro and Marco Rubio affect the relations between Colombia and the US?

The designation of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State by the re-elected President Donald Trump could mark a change in the bilateral relationship between Colombia and the United States, due to the conflictive relationship between President Gustavo Petro and who will be in charge of US foreign policy.

The Florida senator has openly criticized Petro, raising questions about the future of foreign policies between the two countries. The Voice of America He consulted experts about it.

Ideologically, Petro and Rubio, like Trump, are on different sidewalks. This has brought about harsh clashes of opinions between the two in the past on issues such as the validation – or not, in the case of the Colombian leader – of Israel in its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and neighboring nations.

The Republican senator called him “Gustavo Chávez” in May, comparing him to the late former Venezuelan socialist president Hugo Chávez.

Through his social networks, Rubio has said that Petro, who suspended relations with Israel denouncing an alleged “genocide” of the Palestinians, is a “supporter of Hamas.”

The Colombian president, for his part, has considered that Rubio is “an expression of the most retarded sectors of American politics” and has accused him of helping “build a violent foreign policy” in the United States.

Enrique Serrano, international political analyst and professor at the Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, explained that there are “many areas” where Latin America, Colombia included, will once again be the protagonist.

“Of course, there will be positions with Marco Rubio that will seriously question the measures taken and that President Petro will continue to take,” he said.

Experts point out that issues such as drug policy and migration through the Darien Gap, which connects Colombia with Panama, could lead to diplomatic tensions, especially if stricter conditions are imposed for bilateral cooperation.

“There will probably be warnings about how to handle issues related to drugs, the border with Panama and migration in general,” Serrano noted.

“There are many fronts in which the United States is interested in Colombia participating in a more forceful way and Marco Rubio will surely demand it from the Petro government, first in a cordial manner and then perhaps in a more energetic way,” he added.

Drugs and Venezuela, key issues

Nicolás Beckman, professor of global studies at the University of Los Andes in Bogotá, said that regarding anti-drug policy it is possible that Rubio feels his position regarding forced eradication work and glyphosate spraying.

“Petro has always said no to forced eradication, because he maintains that it is a war against farmers and has focused on seizures and war against organizations that organize drug trafficking,” Beckman said.

“Let us remember that, in the past, the Trump administration had clashes with the Duque government over the issue of drugs and it is most likely that there will be very strong clashes with this government due to the increase in these crops,” he said.

Another crucial point will be Venezuela. Rubio has historically defended economic sanctions against the government of Nicolás Maduro and has supported the Venezuelan opposition. This contrasts with the approach of Petro, who has advocated for dialogue between Nicolás Maduro and the opposition of the neighboring country.

“It is possible that now, with Rubio, the United States wants Colombia to adopt a firmer stance, such as an open condemnation of the Maduro government,” Serrano highlighted.

Beckman, a professor at the University of Los Andes, warned that these differences could complicate any attempt at Colombian mediation in Venezuela’s internal affairs.

“Petro’s position has been quite pragmatic on Venezuela, he has tried dialogue to find a way out of the crisis but that has not happened and Petro knows it, however we will have to wait until January when Maduro assumes his new mandate and Trump takes office. ” he stated.

Despite the possible clashes, Beckman also considered that both sides could maintain a diplomatic approach.

“It will depend on the strategy they adopt. If both countries choose to strengthen existing levels of cooperation, there could be significant advances in the bilateral relationship,” he concluded.

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