The Colombia-U.S. Rift: How Continued Discord Threatens American Strategic Interests

Exactly one year has passed since the once-solid partnership between Colombia and the United States began to strain under President Gustavo Petro’s administration, coinciding with Donald Trump’s second term in office. This diplomatic rupture is more than a foreign policy inconvenience; it directly challenges America’s security interests in a region pivotal to combating drug trafficking and sustaining hemispheric stability. When Political Discord Undermines National Security Early in 2025, barely days after Trump took office, President Petro sparked controversy by rejecting two U.S. deportation flights, citing concerns over detainee treatment. Though resolved quickly, this incident inflicted lasting damage on bilateral goodwill....