Location: Bogota – Colombia
Language: Spanish
Duration: 00:05:09
Source: A24 subscribers
Restrictions: A24 clients
Dateline: 20/04/2022
Storyline
Colombian analysts have said that Russia is working to expand its presence in Latin America, mainly in Colombia, attempting to spread Putin’s ideology and power as war in Europe intensifies.
They said capitalizing on opportunities to gain a foothold in Latin America is a familiar strategy for Russia.
Former Colonel Luis Alberto Villamarin, said relations between Colombia and Russia have never been very close.
He expressed his concern that the Colombian-Russian rapprochement would threatens Colombia’s national security in case Pacto Hitorico Party comes the power.
Meanwhile, Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, professor at Universidad del Rosario, said conservative leaders in Colombia have been raising the specter of Russian meddling in the presidential elections, scheduled for May 29th.
The professor said the conservative leaders intends to politicize the issue of Russian intervention in Colombia to use it skillfully in the election.
In 2020, Colombian authorities said that two Russian diplomats had left their embassy in Bogota, saying they were involved in espionage.
Shotlist
– SOUNDBITE SPANISH Luis Alberto Villamarín Pulido, retired military and analyst
“Colombia was forced to expel two members of the Russian embassy who were linked to the protests (from previous years), they were doing espionage in the most important strategic assets of the country. A person was detected filming and taking photos at the most important military base in Colombia, the air force, in Palanquero… And it was discovered that these Russian officials were very close to the strike’s leaders and the violence. Then President Duque expelled them.”
– SOUNDBITE EN SPANISH Luis Alberto Villamarín Pulido, retired military and analyst
“Relations between Colombia and Russia have never been very close.”
– SOUNDBITE EN SPANISH Luis Alberto Villamarín Pulido, retired military and analyst
“For the Russian – or for the Soviet mentality that they still have – the ambassador, the consul, the diplomat is just another intelligence agent. He is a man who has to influence the internal politics of the country where he is working. In this context, Russia, which has a special friendship with Mr. Maduro, has wanted to multiply through him the presence of Russia in Latin America, take away the presence of the United States, and Colombia ends up being the victim of this confrontation between two powers, for the interests that each one has in the region.”
– SOUNDBITE EN SPANISH Luis Alberto Villamarín Pulido, retired military and analyst
(The distance with Rusia ) would affect some student or cultural exchanges that unfortunately have served for Russia to multiply its interests on the continent and on Colombia.
– SOUNDBITE EN SPANISH Luis Alberto Villamarín Pulido, retired military and analyst
“But in the event that it won (leftist Pacto Histórico), Russia would seek to make a greater rapprochement and there would be a number of very strong conflicts, for example with national security. Because it is obvious that if he has his ideological inclination and his closeness to Russia, he is going to want the entire military methodology or doctrine to have a reorientation and there would be a lot of friction with the military command.”
– SOUNDBITE SPANISH Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, professor at Universidad del Rosario
What is happening – it is true – massacres take place with a regularity that should draw our attention… The country is still at war. There is a very serious problem in Arauca, in Catatumbo, in Putumayo. So to respond to the accusations pointing out that some leftist leaders support Russia… and that if they win the presidency Russia would invade us or there would be Russian influence here… For that, Petro has finally chosen to say ” I am not going to talk about the war anymore, because I want to concentrate on the most urgent issues of Colombian reality. Without being in complete agreement, because I do believe that we must talk about war, I totally understand the position because what the far right intends is to politicize the issue of Russia for the worse and use it skillfully in the election.
– SOUNDBITE SPANISH Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, professor at Universidad del Rosario
Now, it seems to me that the discourse is more on the side that Petro would turn Colombia into a copy if Venezuela, which in general for Colombians is a very sensitive issue because we have seen first-hand the exodus of Venezuelan migrants.
– SOUNDBITE SPANISH Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, professor at Universidad del Rosario
“What is my concern? That it is a habit for Centro Democratico (right), and we saw this in the Uribe government and we have seen it in the Duque government, to accuse other countries saying that they have convincing evidence and when it comes to proving something what we have seen are very unreliable documents.”
– SOUNDBITE SPANISH Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, professor at Universidad del Rosario
What generates the most criticism and mistrust is that the diplomatic channels that the Colombian State always used par excellence have been abandoned.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.