Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced plans to sign an agreement to formally join Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), signaling a deepening of ties between the South American nation and Beijing.

According to government sources cited by major Colombian media, President Petro is set to embark on a week-long official visit to China beginning this Saturday. The trip aims to strengthen bilateral relations and explore opportunities for expanded cooperation, particularly in trade and infrastructure.

China is Colombias second-largest trading partner after the United States. Major Chinese firms such as Huawei, Shein, and BYD have been rapidly expanding operations in the country. In light of these growing economic ties, Chinas ambassador to Colombia, Zhu Jingyang, recently suggested the possibility of a free-trade agreement between the two nations.

The BRI, also known as the New Silk Road, was launched by China in 2013 as a global infrastructure and investment strategy designed to enhance connectivity and economic integration across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. To date, around 140 countries have joined the initiative, including 21 in Latin Americaamong them Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

While Beijing views the BRI as a pathway to mutual development, the White House has expressed concern, seeing the initiative as a vehicle for expanding Chinese geopolitical influence.

Colombias potential accession marks a significant shift in the regions geopolitical landscape. It not only represents a strategic win for China in forging closer ties with one of the United States traditional allies, but also highlights a broader trend of hedging by medium-sized powers in a world increasingly shaped by great power rivalry.

Amid this shifting balance, countries like China, Russia, and Iran are increasingly positioning themselves as alternatives for nations seeking to diversify their alliances.

Relations between Colombia and China have been advancing steadily, if quietly. Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions between Bogot and Washington have escalated in recent years. One of the most notable episodes occurred shortly after former President Donald Trump returned to office, when Petro refused to authorize a deportation flight carrying Colombian migrantsa move that triggered one of the most serious diplomatic rifts between the two countries in decades.

Colombias alignment with the BRI may now signal a turning point in its foreign policy priorities, as it seeks to assert a more independent role on the global stage.

Pressenza New York