Colombian President Gustavo Petro and the Venezuelan Crossroads for Peace

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–Researched and Written by Mariana Castillo—Issue Dec 01-31 2024: The Venezuelan presidential inauguration is set to take place on January tenth. President Nicolás Maduro insists on maintaining power, despite the lack of evidence to back his victory in the July 28 elections; meanwhile, opposition leader Edmundo González has announced that he will be in Venezuela to claim office on the same day. It is now clear that Colombian President Gustavo Petro will send an ambassador to the inauguration in his place. Several factors weigh in his decision, such as Venezuela’s position as a key player in geopolitics due to its enormous oil reserves and Colombia’s peace negotiations with the ELN. Condemning Maduro would hinder Petro’s promises for total peace, but openly recognizing him would deal a blow to his popularity. It is a political gamble in which Colombia has a lot to lose, and Petro is opting for an equivocal diplomatic approach.

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