Ramiro Escobar: I don’t think Gustavo Petro’s policy is similar to what we saw in Venezuela or Ecuador

The rejection by Congress of President Pedro Castillo’s request to travel to Colombia to attend the inauguration resonated throughout the region. This was spoken about by several institutions and professionals who opposed this controversial decision of the Legislature.

That’s why, RPP News talked to Ramiro Escobar, a journalist specializing in international affairs, on the international perception of Peru after the incident. The first thing he said is that he excludes that this decision will affect relations between the two countries.

“I don’t think that something of such a magnitude will happen that we will break off relations with ColombiaIt’s a relationship that has been going on for several years. We have an agreement on cooperation in the event of natural disasters, it is maintained, and I do not think that it will be violated. National cabinets will be retained. We had to prevent this domestic turmoil from spilling over into the international arena unnecessarily,” he said.

Likewise, he emphasized that relations between Peru and Colombia had always been good and that Congress should not have been denied travel to Peter’s castle because the President did not have enough evidence to flee the country. “In doing so, I think it reveals an inner conflict that actually needs to be more within us,” he said.

“As outgoing Foreign Minister Cesar Landa said, foreign policy remains above foreign policy circumstances. I do not think that this will somehow affect relations with Colombia, they will continue in a good tone, there will be warm relations with the new president. Gustavo Petro,” he added.

Colombia Review

He also recalled that several left-wing presidents would be present at this ceremony, and this could have worried the head of state. In this sense, he emphasized that the agendas of the presidents Gustavo Petro and Gabriel Boric differ from Castillo in their prioritization of women’s rights, the LGBT community, and the environment.

Ramiro Escobar recalled the experience Petro as a politician and assured that “he is a longtime leader” and that “he is not an ‘underdog'”. “It is no coincidence that your movement is called the Historical Pact because of what it aspires to; This is not a revolution, but a historical turn in Colombia that has several lines,” he said.

In addition, he stressed that his priority should be to negotiate peace with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP)with which progress was made in the mandate of Juan Manuel Santos, but still in that government of Ivan Duque.

“What he is going to do is try to strengthen social and political stability and strengthen the peace process in general, and not just regarding FARC,” he added.

“I think that politics Petro it’s a policy of negotiation, political skill, I don’t think it’s a tough policy like what we saw in Venezuela or Ecuador. I think he will be a different leader; Also, why are they from another left, another from this time and not from the early 2000s. This left is more eco-friendly, more feminist, dialogic and realistic,” she said.

About Miguel Angel Rodriguez Mackay

The journalist pointed out that the new foreign minister, Miguel Angel Rodriguez Mackay, should follow the same path as Cesar Landa and that one of its priorities should be the ratification of the Escazu Agreement, as Colombia did, where it is a national matter.

“Another question is how we position ourselves in the world in relation to major international issues, such as the war in Ukraine or what is happening in the Gaza Strip. We are not an influential force, but we can have a say in these scenarios, in the Latin American context, in how relations with other countries, trade agreements, Venezuelan migration will be managed,” he said.

Similarly, he recommended not to mix ideological thoughts with foreign policy. “A country like Peru cannot do this. Foreign Minister Landa has already demonstrated this; for example, we do not approve of the elections in Nicaragua. Mr. Rodriguez Mackay is what he must do, take his legacy, stabilize and strengthen the image of the country at the international level,” he concluded.