This isn’t the primary time the Petro administration has discovered itself in troubled waters, although.
His presidency has been punctuated by high-profile political crises, each domestically and internationally.
For instance, his outreach to Venezuela and Cuba as mediators in Colombia’s peace course of has fuelled scepticism amongst extra conservative sectors.
In the meantime, his formidable home agenda, together with sweeping reforms to healthcare, pension and labour, has struggled to realize traction amid legislative roadblocks and opposition resistance.
His authorities has additionally confronted recurring instability by way of a sequence of cupboard adjustments and inner disputes. Corruption allegations surrounding Petro’s son and the financing of his 2022 presidential marketing campaign have additional eroded confidence.
However, for a few of Petro’s supporters, his current conflict with Trump symbolised his defiant stance in opposition to US stress and his dedication to defending Colombian dignity.
His base — comprised of progressive voters, human rights advocates and sectors disillusioned with Washington’s interventionist method — sees resistance to Trump’s hardline insurance policies as an assertion of nationwide sovereignty.
“I assumed that what he did was good,” mentioned Robinson Duarte, an economist who voted for Petro in 2022. “It hasn’t distanced me from him. I assist him.”
Trump’s menace of tariffs and sanctions, although averted for now, has raised considerations about potential financial repercussions. This might damage Petro-aligned candidates in 2026, particularly if financial anxieties persist.
But, consultants say Petro’s resilience in political crises shouldn’t be underestimated. His capacity to show moments of confrontation into populist rallying factors has been a defining characteristic of his profession.
If he manages to border the Trump spat as a stand in opposition to overseas aggression, he may strengthen his coalition forward of the 2026 election.
“He has additionally managed to place himself as an individual with the capability to inform [the US] that that is an autonomous nation, we’ve got dignity and we’ve got to know one another throughout the framework of worldwide regulation,” Duarte mentioned.
“Simply because it’s Trump or probably the most influential individual on the earth, we’re not going to bow right down to the US’s manner of doing politics.”
