President Gustavo Petro Signs Colombia Up For China’s Belt & Road Amid Domestic Resistance

Colombian President Gustavo Petro led the Colombian delegation (including 8 ministers) that traveled to China on an official visit as part of the Fourth Ministers’ Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum. The visit, aligned with Colombia’s current foreign policy and President Petro’s ambition to diversify international alliances and deepen cooperation with China, also triggered diplomatic tensions and domestic debates.

President Petro’s visit aimed to reinforce diplomatic ties, attract investment, and strengthen Colombia’s position in areas such as sustainable development, technological cooperation, and global trade. Central to this agenda was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding Colombia’s adherence to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a.k.a. the New Silk Road, which seeks to enhance global connectivity through investments in transport, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure.

While the MoU does not yet formalize Colombia’s full integration into the BRI, the move raised concerns among some domestic sectors. Through a press release, Fenalco, the national federation of merchants, pointed out that “global trade is not a zero-sum game. It’s not about substituting one market for another, nor about generating unnecessary tensions with our main allies. The United States remains our fundamental strategic partner (…). Trade and diplomatic decisions must be made with a long-term vision, defending the economic and social well-being of all Colombians.” Bruce MacMaster, President of the National Business Association of Colombia, ANDI, claimed via X: “Does Colombia want to do this now? In exchange for what? What justification is there from the perspective of our current international strategy? How does it affect our relationship with our trading partners, who buy most of our exports? I hope these factors are taken into account when discussing or considering the issue.”

The ‘strategic partner’ both organizations were referring to is Colombia’s largest business partner, the US, which also was not indifferent to the matter. “The U.S. will strongly oppose recent projects and upcoming disbursements by the Inter-American Development Bank and other IFIs for Chinese state-owned and controlled companies in Colombia (and other BRI countries in the region). These projects endanger the region’s safety and security. American tax dollars SHOULD NOT be used in any way by international organizations to subsidize Chinese companies in our hemisphere,” the Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs announced via X, shortly after the MoU was signed.

As part of the agenda in China, Colombia also submitted its application to join the New Development Bank (NDB,) an institution founded by the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies. With the application, Petro’s government committed to purchasing $512 million USD in shares of the bank. Colombia is working on this new partnership to fund large-scale infrastructure projects, including a proposed rail network connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

President Petro and his delegation held several high-profile meetings during their time in China. In Beijing, they met with executives from China Energy (SZSE:000966) and Foton (SS:600166), exploring opportunities in the energy transition and renewable energy sectors. In Shanghai, they visited the headquarters of BYD (OTCPK:BYDDF), leading global player in electric vehicles and green transportation. Discussions focused on sustainable mobility, investment possibilities in Colombia, and technology transfer.

The visit also emphasized academic and scientific diplomacy. Petro met with Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng. They discussed commercial cooperation, artificial intelligence, sustainable urban development, and education.

Through the Colombian Ministry of Education, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with three prominent Chinese universities—Beihang University, Tianjin University, and South China Agricultural University. The agreements aim to “foster academic, scientific, and cultural exchange”, according to the Colombian government press release.

Some critics argue that aligning too closely with China could jeopardize Colombia’s trade relations with the US. Moreover, skepticism remains regarding the long-term implications of joining large-scale Chinese-led initiatives, particularly given concerns around debt, transparency, and sovereignty. As Francisco Santos, Colombia’s former Vice President, told Finance Colombia, “China doesn’t give anything away: it demands political loyalty, charges high prices, and exerts unscrupulous pressure. Countries like Ecuador, Venezuela, and Sri Lanka are mired in debt impossible to be paid, blatant corruption, and loss of sovereignty. Is this the future Petro wants for Colombia? Signing a deal with China isn’t progress; it’s mortgaging the country in exchange for shady favors. This isn’t a strategic shift; it’s a leap into the void driven by the most controversial government in our recent history.”

Headline photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. (Photo: Presidencia de Colombia)