Biden's New Latin America Juggling Act: How to Handle Colombia's New President

The election of guerilla-turned-politician Gustavo Petro as the first leftist president of Colombia last weekend marked a historic turn for the Latin American nation. It could become a historic headache for President Joe Biden as well.

Petro’s leftist politics poses new hurdles for the U.S. as it holds the potential to rearrange the two countries’ long-standing alliance that has garnered bipartisan support for decades. He has sought to reestablish diplomatic ties with Venezuela’s authoritarian regime, which the Biden administration does not recognize. He’s criticized a decadeslong partnership with the U.S. on the forced eradication of coca, the base ingredient of cocaine, and the extradition of drug cartel leaders. He’s also suggested cutting oil exploration at a time Biden has asked nations to produce more. […]

The Biden administration’s quick moves to engage with Petro suggested that the U.S. is serious about keeping the South American country close instead of isolating the leftist leader before he’s even begun, several former U.S. officials and experts on the region said.

“This is a real effort from the White House to get off on the right foot — and we’ll see if that’s a sustainable approach,” said Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the think tank Council of the Americas. “Now, does he focus on Colombia’s very deep-seated economic problems or does he try to make a name for himself as the new spokesman of the international left? We’ll just have to wait and see.”…

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