BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro has taken a diplomatic step to alleviate escalating tensions with the United States by sending a letter to President Donald Trump on June 23, clarifying his remarks from a previous speech accusing U.S. officials of involvement in a plot to topple his government.
The letter, which was leaked to Colombian media, noted that Petro intended no personal accusations against U.S. officials, particularly Secretary of State Marco Rubio, regarding a purported coup against him. He stated, “I would like to clarify that any expression of mine, which may have been interpreted as a direct accusation about participation in a coup attempt in Colombia had no intention of signaling anyone personally or questioning the role of the United States, without any proof.”
This attempt at reconciliation comes during one of the lowest points in U.S.-Colombia relations since the 1990s, a time marked by diplomatic frictions, including a past allegation that led to the revocation of a Colombian president’s U.S. visa due to drug trafficking financing claims.
Following Petro’s speech on June 11, in which he described claims made by a neighboring president concerning Rubio’s involvement in political maneuvers against him, tensions reached a turning point. The U.S. State Department characterized statements from Colombia’s government as “baseless and reprehensible,” leading to the recall of its top diplomat from Colombia.
In a reciprocal action, Colombia recalled its ambassador from Washington to reassess their diplomatic relationship and review progress on critical collaborative issues, such as combating climate change and addressing the international finances supporting drug trafficking. Colombia has long been a key partner in the U.S.-led fight against cocaine production, with the Andean nation receiving over $13 billion in U.S. aid in the past two decades.
Petro’s presidency from 2022 has brought a shift in focus towards climate change and the transition to cleaner energy sources, diverging from the traditional priorities of previous administrations. This change has further complicated bilateral relations, leading to earlier disputes, such as the disagreement in January over deportation flights from the U.S. military. After Colombia halted two aircraft from landing, Trump responded with threats of a 25% tariff, yet the issue was swiftly resolved when Colombia agreed to dispatch its aircraft to retrieve Colombian migrants facing deportation.
In June, Petro accused U.S. Congressmen Carlos Gimenez and Mario Diaz Balart of attempts to orchestrate his ousting, referencing recordings involving Colombia’s former foreign minister, Alvaro Leyva. Both congressmen have denied any role in such plans to remove Petro, amid rising scrutiny regarding these allegations. In response to the allegations, Colombian prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the matter after the recordings were leaked to Spanish news outlet El País.
As tensions mount, Colombia grapples with a significant rise in cocaine production, with coca cultivation reportedly reaching a record area of 253,000 hectares (976 square miles) in 2023. This marks a staggering 40% increase from 2020, underscoring the challenges both nations face in their longstanding collaboration against drug trafficking.
The diplomatic exchange between Petro and Trump illustrates the complexities of international relations (as the world economy changes) in the face of domestic crises and global drug problems.
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