Former Colombian ambassadors to the US warn of complex relations between Petro and Trump governments

Difficult times are ahead in relations between Colombia, led by President Gustavo Petro, and the United States, under the mandate of Donald Trump: This was anticipated by three former Colombian ambassadors of the North American country.

Carolina Barco, Luis Alberto Moreno and Gabriel Silva, former ambassadors of Colombia to the United States, They pointed out strategic errors on the part of Colombia and warned that if the aid is lost there will be no way to recover it.

Luis Alberto Moreno mentioned that “here comes a very deep budget cutting process and I think that, if we lose what that support has been, there is no possibility of getting it again. In such a way that I see some big alarm signals.”

(Read also: President Petro sends letter to Donald Trump: what did he say to the next president of the United States?)

What will relations between Colombia and the United States be like?

Things will not be easy and three of those who have had the responsibility of managing relations with the White House in recent years agree.

In a conversation at the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce, the former officials pointed out that a Congress with a Republican majority, where the celebrated bipartisan consensus on Colombia no longer exists and with an elected president (Donald Trump), that announces the return of tariffs and economic protectionism, the panorama is complex and could be worse if strategic errors are added.

Carolina Barco stated that “I do not think this is the time to think about a renegotiation of our FTA. We have a very clear framework and possibilities to be able to adjust it as necessary and the outlook is too uncertain. Right now, it is preferable to work with what we have and see how we adjust it.”

The former diplomats called for pragmatism to prevail over the ideological differences between the government of President Gustavo Petro and the one that will be that of the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, but a scenario of confrontation seems inevitable.

“There is a great potential for conflict here, but I get the impression that, for President Petro, with the perspective of 2026, a confrontation favors him infinitely”said former ambassador Gabriel Silva.

“There is the possibility of sanctions against countries that do not have Trump’s vision”

Brian Winter, an expert on United States relations with Latin America, points out the beginning of a new chapter with other priorities: “I know that he has complained, sometimes with reason, in the last 25 years, about the narcotization of the relationship between Colombia and the United States. It seems to me that migration awaits us, there is the possibility of concrete threats of tariffs, sanctions or other types of punishment for all countries in the region that, in Donald Trump’s vision, do not collaborate.”

AFP

Due to immigration and drug trafficking problems, they assure that trade with Mexico will be the most affected and, paradoxically, in this crisis, Colombia can find opportunities. However, the private sector will have to play its own cards.

“Colombia must act with pragmatism, be proactive, take the initiative, intensify diplomacy and relations with the Legislature,” mentioned María Claudia Lacouture, executive president of Amcham Colombia.

They also pointed out that, with so many shadows on the way, a unified stance of the country in the face of the challenges will be necessary.

(Read also: What does Donald Trump’s victory in the United States mean for Colombia?)