Exclusive: Venezuela Seeks a Deal with Biden as Colombia Summit Begins
NewsweekAPR 2023
This long-awaited agreement is a step in the right direction to peace, reasserting the commitment of both the Colombian government and the ELN to solve the six-decade-long armed conflict plaguing the country. Unlike past peace processes, Petro's "total peace" is likely to finally bring the armed insurgency to an end as it will not persecute the guerrillas after they demobilize and disarm.
It's no coincidence that this breakthrough comes shortly after leaked conversations between top Colombian officials suggested that drug cartels financially backed Petro ahead of the second round of voting last year, causing an institutional crisis that has marred his administration's credibility. The ceasefire is merely a political stunt to divert public attention.