US Turns to Peru in Pressure Campaign Against Colombia-Venezuela ties

Past attempts to unite Latin America through political and economic partnerships have had mixed results. These past attempts include the ethereal Pacific Alliance. It has no organization or secretariat but claims to have removed tariffs on 90% of the products traded between its four member countries. Another is Mercosur, which despite its robust structure has yet to progress in the creation of a free trade zone. Its customs union has been modest amodst with recurring conflicts.

This is hardly the half of it.

However, a new era of integration is advancing in the region spearheaded by two major countries-Venezuela and Colombia.

Colombia & Venezuela together

Colombia and Venezuela signed an agreement to revive trade between the two countries during a ceremony on a border bridge. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro and Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro both signed the historic agreement.

The deal “updates everything having to do with tariffs, with goods traded, (and) lays the foundations for a new dynamic. Also, for the expansion of trade between Colombia and Venezuela,” Maduro said at the event broadcast on Venezuelan state television.

Diplomatic and trade relations began a process of normalization in September 2022. This happened Gusatvo Petro, Colombian President, pledged during his campaign to normalize diplomatic relations with Venezuela.

Both Colombia and Venezuela have now, become thorns in Western flesh.

Common enemy- USA

Nicholas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, recently halted all oil shipments to the United States. This impacted the US’s brand-oil strategy for Europe, which it anticipated would hurt Russia. The US had hoped to ship Venezuelan oil to Europe which has been attempting to break free from Russian oil since the inception of the Russia-Ukraine War.

With the election of former guerilla Gustavo Petro, Colombia entered a new political era.

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The trade ties to the region are small. But are likely to grow significantly given the region’s recent emphasis on mining, cattle, and oil. With growing economic ties to China, Petro seeks to change the country’s overall foreign policy strategy by placing more emphasis on its Latin American neighbours. Petro has been extremely critical of Colombian-American cooperation in the drug war, which places a focus on limiting supply, a tactic he believes has failed.

America exploits Peru?

This growing cooperation between Venezuela and Colombia, two of America’s growing foes has left Washington perplexed.

So they are now exploiting Peru to stymie the growth of unification among Latin American countries.

Peru recently moved to declare Colombia’s President as persona non grata. This could indeed have major repercussions in the bilateral ties between Peru and Colombia and thereby in extension to the ideal plan of integration between Latin American nations.

Peru has become a puppet state of US, ever since Pedro Castillo was thrown out of power. As explained before, it was a coup orchestrated by Washington against the nationalist government of Castillo. He was soon replaced by a Western backed leader. Many Latin American leaders have denounced the recent takeover, in some sense, of Peru by the Americans.

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For instance, Colombian President has been quite vocal about his discontent. Petro’s comments since President Pedro Castillo was ousted by Congress, have ranged from referring to the Peruvian leader as a “victim of a fascist coup,” to someone “cornered” politically from his first day in office.

Peru is a strong player in South America and therefore pitting it against another major player Colombia could never lead to the much needed unification among Latin American nations. This is what America always wanted and unfortunately, is succeeding in its goals.