On the eve of the Fifth Summit of Amazonian Presidents of the OTCA, Colombia is closely watching the situation in the Amazon, especially due to the diplomatic tension with Peru over Santa Rosa Island and the growing security problems in the area. According to Martín Von Hildebrand, from the OTCA, the Amazon is controlled by mafias that possess more resources than the governments themselves. The summit, which will bring together leaders from Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and other countries in the region, will address the threat of organized crime and its impact on the conservation of the Amazon, a problem aggravated by the growing demand for cocaine and the high prices of gold.
Additionally, the debate over the exploitation of resources in the region promises to be a flashpoint. While Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva advocates oil exploration near the rainforest as part of the energy transition, his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, warns against it due to the environmental impact. This divergence adds to the concerns of Indigenous peoples, who demand an active role in co-governance to protect their territories and ensure access to climate funds. The final declaration of the summit could face challenges in reaching a consensus due to these tensions.
Read the full news article on The Country.
