Colombia’s Sovereignty Challenge: Petro’s Bold Rejection of Peru’s Claims on Santa Rosa Island

In a striking assertion of national sovereignty, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared that his government does not recognize Peruvian sovereignty or authorities on Santa Rosa Island, a contested land formation in the Amazon River marking the Colombia-Peru border. This declaration comes amid longstanding ambiguity over border demarcations shaped by shifting river courses—raising pressing questions about respect for international treaties and regional peace. Is Colombia Standing Firm or Fueling Diplomatic Strife? Petro’s statement, delivered in Leticia—Colombia’s frontier city opposite Santa Rosa—was more than rhetoric. He rejected the presence of a Russian military helicopter on what he calls disputed territory and challenged...