A Turn to the Left*

*Editor’s Note: On March 4, Russia enacted a law that criminalizes public opposition to, or independent news reporting about, the war in Ukraine. The law makes it a crime to call the war a “war” rather than a “special military operation” on social media or in a news article or broadcast. The law is understood to penalize any language that “discredits” Russia’s use of its military in Ukraine, calls for sanctions or protests Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It punishes anyone found to spread “false information” about the invasion with up to 15 years in prison.

Political analyst Alexander Vedrussov on why the victory of progressive forces in Colombia is important to the sovereignty of the Western Hemisphere.

Colombia has diligently played the role of a U.S. stronghold in Latin America in recent decades. For the U.S., it was somewhat similar to Ukraine, but bigger. Economically, oligarchic groups almost fully controlled Bogota. One became part of the political elite by passing muster with the American Embassy. In a military sense, Colombia was nothing but a foothold for the CIA and the Pentagon, a place from which the U.S. kept the Caribbean region in its sights. Officially, Bogota approved the location of seven U.S. military bases in Colombia together with a horde of military advisers sent by Washington to assist Colombia’s armed forces and paramilitary organizations. The U.S. has entrenched themselves in Colombia as if it were their own backyard.

But this past Sunday for the first time in its history, Colombia elected a progressive leftist president, Gustavo Petro. Petro announced that the country would transition to forging an independent, multivector foreign policy. For a better understanding of what that means to the pro-Washington elite of Colombia, you need to consider an example relevant in the post-Soviet era. Imagine if Ukraine elected a president who could challenge both Joe Biden and Igor Kolomysky, both the local and American elite. To everyone’s surprise, such a leader emerged in Colombia on June 19.

Naturally, it is an enormous task to stop the spiral of violence in a country that employed state paramilitary terror for many years. We can’t be sure that the new president will succeed in revitalizing the situation in Colombia and installing humanistic rule in Bogota. It’s worth recalling that, in only a few months this year, at least 79 social leaders and human rights defenders were killed in Colombia.. After Colombia signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas in 2016, according to the most conservative estimates, the far right killed more than 1,000 former guerrillas and leftist activists. It’s questionable whether it’s even possible to establish social reconciliation under such harsh conditions .

It’s also worth noting that in the 21st century, land issues are still at the heart of social unrest in some countries. Modern Colombia is a country of extensive parcels of privately owned property. More than 50% of the land belongs to 1.5% of the population. About 60% of the property resources in the country belongs to 0.1% of the wealthiest private landowners. Capable of producing valuable crops, Colombia prefers to grow coca leaves and live on imported foodstuffs. This multibillion illegal business generates a criminal environment and increases violence in Colombia. Obviously, it will be difficult to cure the country of its long-standing drug addiction. But it’s worth trying.

On closer examination, you can see that the geopolitical changes in Colombia correspond to a new wave of anti-colonialism that has already swept up many developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Step by step, dynamic, promising states and regions are wresting their place under the sun from those who believe they are the undisputed masters of the world.

Cuba, Venezuela and other countries have already made their bet on sovereignty in the Caribbean despite the fact that it’s incredibly difficult — sometimes even dangerous — to build an independent state next to the United States. Washington’s opposition will inevitably weaken, but it is still exists. The pressure of sanctions imposed by the United States can be rather painful. That’s why the unexpected effort by Colombia, America’s stronghold in South America, to assert its sovereignty could well cause a global chain reaction as other countries celebrate a kind of disobedience. At some point, Washington will find itself unable to substantiate its exceptionalism with practical measures to keep its spheres of influence — not only in remote regions of the planet, but even in its own backyard.

Brazil and Argentina are already forging special relationships with Russia and, to the clear displeasure of the U.S., “separately” negotiating with Moscow for vaccines and fertilizers. The Sandinista National Liberation Front of Nicaragua is opening its military facilities to Russian armed forces. The leftist populist government of Mexico — the closest neighbor and the most important trade partner of the U.S. — is adopting an increasingly greater independent foreign policy on Russia as well.

Of course, geopolitical shifts in Latin America could simply be part of a cycle. Over a span of decades, the same countries first get close to Washington’s center of power, then try to separate themselves from it as much as possible. But this time, the usual fluctuation by governments in Latin America from left to right is extremely suitable for the emerging multipolar world order. This cannot simply be seasonal. What has happened in Colombia seems to echo a new era of change from globalization to a multipolar world.