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 achieve traction amid legislative roadblocks and opposition resistance.
His authorities has additionally confronted recurring instability via a collection of cupboard adjustments and inside disputes. Corruption allegations surrounding Petro’s son and the financing of his 2022 presidential marketing campaign have additional eroded confidence.
Nonetheless, for a few of Petro’s supporters, his current conflict with Trump symbolised his defiant stance in opposition to US strain and his dedication to defending Colombian dignity.
His base — comprised of progressive voters, human rights advocates and sectors disillusioned with Washington’s interventionist strategy — sees resistance to Trump’s hardline insurance policies as an assertion of nationwide sovereignty.
“I assumed that what he did was good,” stated Robinson Duarte, an economist who voted for Petro in 2022. “It hasn’t distanced me from him. I assist him.”
Trump’s risk of tariffs and sanctions, although averted for now, has raised issues about potential financial repercussions. This might harm Petro-aligned candidates in 2026, particularly if financial anxieties persist.
But, consultants say Petro’s resilience in political crises shouldn’t be underestimated. His means to show moments of confrontation into populist rallying factors has been a defining function 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 grasp one another throughout the framework of worldwide legislation,” Duarte stated.
“Simply because it’s Trump or probably the most influential particular person on this planet, we aren’t going to bow right down to the US’s approach of doing politics.”
