Unions urge the Government to resolve conflicts through diplomatic channels

Colombia and the United States are once again in the public eyethis time due to an exchange of statements between President Gustavo Petro and his American counterpart, Donald Trump.

(Read more: ‘Trump is deceived by advisors’: Petro, after withdrawal of US financial aid.)

It all started on the morning of this Sunday, October 19, when Trump shared a message in which he linked the Colombian head of state and announced the cessation of financing by the US to Colombia in some programs. The comment led to a series of messages between the two that have reignited the flames regarding the growing tension in the relationship between the two countries.

Criticism in this regard has not been long in coming, especially from various fronts of the economy that have called for caution so as not to erode the bond with this trading partner.

‘Committed relationships’

Among these voices is included that of Jaime Alberto Cabal, president of the National Federation of Merchants of Colombia (Fenalco). The union leader pointed out that Petro’s constant provocations towards the United States compromises the stability of foreign relations and puts international trust at risk.

“Given the diplomatic, political and economic consequences that he himself has generated, it is foreseeable that Petro will once again resort to his well-known strategy of presenting himself as a leader persecuted by the powers or as the insurgent voice against the “empire”. But this propaganda resource lacks legitimacy in modern diplomacy and only deepens the isolation that his own speech has caused,” Indian.

The president of Fenalco emphasized that constitutional loyalty obliges the head of state to represent the entire Nation and that this also translates into He cannot put his ideology above the interests of the country.

“Unfortunately, citizens and especially businessmen will pay for their irresponsibility. Restoring Colombia’s credibility among its natural allies will be a priority and urgent task for the next government.”he added.

(Read more: Petro affirms that the United States violated Colombian sovereignty in the Caribbean Sea)

For his part, the president of the National Association of Foreign Trade (Analdex), Javier Díaz, pointed out the need to that other types of channels be used to resolve these types of disputes. “For the good of Colombia and its relations with the United States, I hope these issues are processed through diplomatic channels and not through social networks”he pointed out.

The president of the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia (Andi), Bruce Mac Master, joined the statements, highlighting that relations with trade allies must be treated seriously.

“Especially in moments in which there are differences or in which there are potential crises, we have to activate diplomatic channels, which are the mechanism that humanity has defined to be able to carry out the most complex conversations that may eventually arise between nations,” Mac Master highlighted.

The union leader also mentioned that holding conversations through social networks should not be the standard and called on the National Government to resume the conversation through official channels. “to be able to raise doubts, discrepancies, crises or eventually differences that we have with other countries, especially with the United States.”

(Read more: Reactions to the proposal to declare the pension reform unenforceable)

PORTFOLIO