Colombia ordered the expulsion of diplomats from the Argentine embassy in Bogota on Wednesday after a series of insults from the Argentine president. In an interview with CNN in Spanish which is to be broadcast on Sunday March 31, 2024, Javier Milei called his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro a “murderer” and a “terrorist”.
Published on :
4 mins
This is not the first time that the tone has risen between the two leaders and the two countries since the election of the Argentine president. Last January, the ultraliberal Javier Milei had estimated that his Colombian counterpart, a left-wing man and former M-19 guerrilla activist in the 1980s, was a “ murderous communist who is sinking the Colombia “, adding that he was a ” deadly disease for Colombians themselves “. The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs then deplored “ disrespectful and repeated statements which deteriorate the historic ties of friendship between the two countries “. President Gustavo Petro had then recalled his ambassador inArgentinaCamillo Romero.
Since then, the relationship between the two countries had remained tense, the word ” Nazi » had even been uttered. Last February, Gustavo Petro commented on a report stating that the decisions taken by the Argentine head of government were increasing poverty in the country: “ the misnamed libertarians who believe that freedom is to enslave human beings before the great economic powers defend the old objective of the Nazis. » Knowing that Javier Milei claims to be part of the libertarian movement.
But the names were already flying before Javier Milei became president in November. In 2023, when he was still only a candidate, Javier Milei affirmed on a Colombian radio that “ a socialist is trash ” and one ” human excrement “. Reaction from Gustavo Petro on his X account: “ that's what Hitler said “. Javier Milei then outbid: “ This doesn't surprise me from a socialist (…). They are part of the decadence “. Furthermore, Javier Milei did not appreciate the support given by Gustavo Petro to his opponent in the second round, Sergio Massa: the Colombian president then affirmed that the Argentines had the choice between “ hope and barbarity “, and ” Milei takes us back to the days of Pinochet and Videla “. He then described Javier Milei’s victory as “ a sad moment for Latin America “. And he had not attended the inauguration of the new Argentine president in Buenos Aires, unlike other left-wing leaders in the region, such as the Chilean Gabriel Boric (Colombia was still represented by its Minister of Foreign Affairs and its ambassador).
What are the consequences in the event of a breakdown in relationships?
In January, after the first insults from Javier Milei who became president, Gustavo Petro recalled his ambassador to Buenos Aires. Today, Colombia took a further step by ordering the expulsion of diplomats from the Argentine embassy in Bogota. We do not know at the moment if the Argentinian ambassador to Colombia is concerned, if this were the case it would not mean the breakdown of relations between the two countries. However, explains the Colombian daily The Spectator“ the expulsion of the ambassador may impact diplomatic relations and lead to a suspension of bilateral contacts between the two countries, if the country whose ambassador was expelled decides to take reciprocal measures. Commercial and cultural relations between the two countries would be seriously affected.. »
“ A dissolution of ties between the two countries would have worrying effects », Estimates for its part the Argentine newspaper The Nation, which highlights that, according to the latest figures from the Argentine Ministry of the Interior, almost 112,000 Colombians lived in Argentina in 2022 – and 6,000 Argentines in Colombia. However, a breakdown in relations would lead to a closure of consulates. Student agreements could also be affected (more than 14,000 Colombians currently study in Argentina), as could judicial cooperation agreements and bilateral trade. Fact, ” Colombia is an extremely important country for Argentine trade », underlines the Argentinian daily Clarin : it is the second destination for its car exports, sales of Argentine wine are experiencing strong growth, and “ there Colombia hosts mid-sized companies that provide services to the oil industry “.
Read alsoArgentina: 100 days after his inauguration, Javier Milei has already started his budget cuts