Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s fiery rhetoric at international forums and his bold policy shifts have placed Bogotá at the center of a deepening rift with Washington-one that reflects not just a bilateral dispute, but a much larger contest over global influence. The escalating tensions between Colombia and the United States reveal the latter’s growing unease over China’s expanding footprint in Latin America, as the century-old Monroe Doctrine once again becomes a talking point in US policy circles.

President Petro’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia for the Future Investment Initiative conference in late October marked a symbolic turning point in Colombia’s diplomatic posture. Once one of Washington’s most dependable partners in South America, Colombia is now asserting a foreign policy more aligned with Global South priorities-especially regarding Palestine and opposition to Western military interventions.

Petro’s statements at the United Nations last month left little ambiguity. Calling for the “liberation” of Palestine and advocating for the UN to “act by force if necessary,” he directly challenged US policy, which has consistently shielded Israel from international sanctions or military pressure. In retaliation, Washington reportedly revoked Petro’s visa-an odd gesture given that, as a head of state, he did not require one.

This episode followed Colombia’s decision to host a 30-nation summit in July condemning Israel’s military operations in Gaza and calling for Palestinian statehood. The initiative led to the formation of the so-called Hague Group, a coalition of countries advocating for the enforcement of UN resolutions related to the conflict. For Petro, the move was part of a broader effort to “defend the principles of international law” and push back against what he termed “the collapse of the international system under unchecked power politics.”

Petro’s moves represented a dramatic departure from Colombia’s traditional alignment with Washington. His government not only severed trade ties with Israel but also expelled its diplomatic mission after two........

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