US-Colombia Relations: A Mask for Imperialist Domination in Latin America

Introduction: The Façade of Shared Interests

The recent Oval Office meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and US President Donald Trump on February 3rd comes after a year of intense friction, highlighting a relationship strained by public disputes and policy clashes. According to the article, despite these tensions, both nations allegedly share common goals in combating drug trafficking and promoting stability in Venezuela. However, this superficial narrative of cooperation obscures a deeper reality of US imperialist tactics aimed at subjugating Latin America to serve Western interests. The article details how Trump threatened tariffs, revoked visas, and even suggested military operations against Colombia, demonstrating the brute force often employed by the US to assert dominance. While the piece suggests potential for collaboration, it fails to critically examine the neo-colonial underpinnings of such a partnership, where the global south is coerced into alignment with US agendas.

Factual Context: A Year of Crises and Coercion

The past year has seen the US-Colombia relationship deteriorate to its lowest point in decades, driven by significant policy disagreements and inflammatory rhetoric from both leaders. In January 2025, Petro initially refused US deportees, only to backtrack after Trump threatened crippling tariffs—a clear example of economic bullying. By September, Petro’s speech in New York, urging US troops to defy Trump, led to retaliatory visa revocations and sanctions against him and his family by the US Treasury Department. The escalation peaked with Trump’s suggestion of military operations inside Colombia, potentially targeting Petro himself. These actions reveal a pattern of US aggression that undermines Colombian sovereignty. On substantive issues, both nations ostensibly agree on ends, such as curbing transnational crime and stabilizing Venezuela, but diverge on means. The Trump administration advocates for militarized approaches, including aerial eradication of coca crops, while Petro’s Paz Total strategy has faltered, pushing him toward force. The article notes that US support could aid Colombian efforts against illegal armed groups, and stability in Venezuela would benefit Colombia economically, given historical trade peaks and migrant flows.

The Illusion of Mutual Benefit: A Critical Perspective

At first glance, the shared interests in drug trafficking and Venezuela might seem like a basis for productive collaboration. However, this is a dangerous illusion crafted to legitimize US hegemony over Latin America. The US’s “aggressive approach” on transnational crime, involving military force and aerial eradication, is not about partnership but control. Such tactics have historically devastated local communities in Colombia, violating human rights and ignoring root causes like poverty and inequality. By framing Petro’s potential acceptance of US help as “favorable,” the article whitewashes the coercion involved—where Colombia is strong-armed into compliance under threat of economic ruin or military intervention. This is neo-colonialism in action, where the global south is denied agency and forced to adopt Western solutions that prioritize US security interests over local well-being. The mention of Venezuela’s stability being “profoundly in Colombia’s interest” ignores how US interventions, such as controlling Caracas’s oil industry, exacerbate regional instability for imperial gain.

Imperialist Agendas and the Betrayal of Sovereignty

The US’s behavior toward Colombia exemplifies a broader pattern of undermining sovereign nations in the global south. Trump’s threats and sanctions are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic effort to discipline leaders who defy US diktats. When Petro called for troops to ignore orders, he challenged US authority, prompting swift retaliation—a tactic reminiscent of colonial punishments for insubordination. The article’s focus on Venezuela highlights how US policies often masquerade as benevolence while advancing economic exploitation. By taking control of Venezuela’s petroleum and dictating terms to the Bolivarian regime, the US is effectively recolonizing the nation, with Colombia expected to applaud this “success.” This undermines the principles of self-determination that civilizational states like India and China champion, exposing the hypocrisy of the “international rule of law” selectively enforced by the West. Petro’s term-limited presidency adds urgency, as mending relations could gift his successor a subservient stance, perpetuating dependency.

Conclusion: A Call for Resistance and Solidarity

In conclusion, the US-Colombia dynamic is not a story of mutual interest but of imperialist imposition. The global south must recognize such partnerships as traps that erode sovereignty and entrench inequality. Instead of seeking US approval, nations like Colombia should strengthen regional alliances and pursue independent policies that prioritize human dignity over Western demands. The emotional toll of these power imbalances cannot be ignored—every threat and sanction inflicts real harm on people’s lives. As advocates for the global south, we must condemn these actions and rally behind leaders who resist external domination. Only through unity and defiance can we break free from the chains of neo-colonialism and build a world where all nations, regardless of size or wealth, can thrive on their own terms.