Daniel García-Peña, Colombia's ambassador to the United States, spoke with EL TIEMPO about the new diplomatic crisis between Bogotá and Washington due to the clashes between presidents Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump. He assured that diplomatic channels are open and once he completes an agenda, he will return to North America with his eyes on the budget that is currently being debated in that country's Congress.
What were the conclusions of the meeting between President Gustavo Petro and the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, John McNamara, on Monday?
It was a very good meeting because we had the opportunity to discuss all the issues. We particularly focused on drug trafficking. We expressed our dissatisfaction with and rejection of the terms used by President Donald Trump to refer to President Gustavo Petro. It was an opportunity to explain details of the anti-drug trafficking policy, which has truly yielded historic results on several fronts. We emphasized the importance of crop substitution as a much more efficient and effective method than forced eradication. We also discussed the importance of transforming the country. We emphasized that Colombia will continue to fight drug trafficking, which has been a threat to our society, and we will continue in that fight. But, obviously, it would be much better to continue doing so in coordination with the United States.
Do you think McNamara left peacefully? What message do you think he will send to Washington?
He was very clear in stating that his job was to send the messages and report everything that was discussed. He was also very clear in stating that decisions like the tariff issue, which Mr. Trump mentioned over the weekend, are a matter for President Trump. But I do believe the meeting served to clarify some issues. At the meeting, he thanked President Petro for the support of the security forces to the United States embassy during the protests. McNamara is a career diplomat who knows Colombia very well and has great appreciation for the country.
What's next? Will they cut all aid to Colombia? Are more tariffs coming? Will the president be included on the Clinton list?
I prefer not to speculate on the facts. In fact, the issue of the Clinton list hasn't even been raised. Since President Trump is very unpredictable, I would be wrong to say what he will or won't do. The truth is that the meeting served the purpose of keeping the channels open, insisting that Colombia and the United States must continue working together. In that sense, I left the meeting happy.
Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump, from opposite sides of the aisle, have many things in common, such as sending messages via hidden voices and ignoring diplomatic channels. Is there a way to sustain diplomatic relations when, from here and there, presidents govern in a huff and puff?
There's a phrase I remember a lot from my cousin Rodrigo Pardo, may he rest in peace, who was Foreign Minister. He always said that the more difficult a situation is, the more problems there are between two countries, the more diplomacy is required. Colombia and the United States are two democratic countries; President Trump was elected by the American people, just as Gustavo Petro was elected by the Colombian people. It's normal for there to be differences between the two countries' relations, and indeed, they have different political positions. What we insist on is that diplomatic channels must be open to exchange concerns, but also to discuss aspects on which we agree.
Is President Gustavo Petro interested in having diplomatic relations with Donald Trump's administration?
Of course, of course.
Does President Petro not ignore that the United States is our main trading partner, considering what businesspeople say, asking us not to cause problems there because that would hurt us here?
That's right, just like that.
Are you going back to Washington?
The call for consultations has already been fulfilled. We must continue working on the trade front, not just waiting to see if there will be more tariffs. We have already said that the 10 percent tariff disregards the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. We have insisted on the need to review it since the tariff was imposed. The conversation on trade will continue. We continue working on the issue of deportations and the planes we are sending to bring back deportees. We continue working closely together on the issue of security, which is very important in the conversation with the United States. The fight against drug trafficking has always been fundamental, and today it is more so than ever. I have no set return date for Washington; I will take advantage of these days to hold some meetings here.
What will those first tasks be once you land?
On the one hand, maintaining the existing channels with the State Department, the National Security Council, and the White House. In this upcoming phase, Congress is particularly important because they haven't been able to agree on the budget, which is crucial because this is when they're looking not only at Colombia but also at the global level in terms of foreign aid. Therefore, we are intensifying this work with Republicans and Democrats more than ever, but with greater emphasis on Republicans, who hold the majority.
Has the United States demanded any demonstration of greater will in the fight against drug trafficking that would leave them at ease?
There hasn't been any specific demand. They do have concerns about the crop issue, and it's very important that President Petro was able to explain why the United Nations report made serious errors in its measurement.
Finally, haven't you recommended to President Petro that he step down and let you and the Foreign Ministry handle diplomacy with the United States?
The president, as head of state, is the one who manages international relations. These days, whether we like it or not, X is the mechanism many presidents use. But there was a consensus that it was necessary to de-escalate the current crisis, and that is the commitment that was made. McNamara pledged to convey to the United States that we should find a way to de-escalate this situation.
MATEO GARCÍA
