Colombia’s President Petro charges Peru with annexing a contested island in the Amazon region.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly addressed the contentious issue of the island of Santa Rosa, located in the Amazon River, an area that has sparked a longstanding territorial debate between Colombia and Peru. In a recent social media update, President Petro accused the Peruvian government of unilaterally asserting control over the island following a congressional vote that designated Santa Rosa as a district within Peru’s Loreto province.

President Petro’s assertions reference the implications of this action for Colombia, particularly regarding the city of Leticia, which relies heavily on access to the Amazon River. He expressed concerns that Peru’s recent moves could impact the commercial viability and accessibility of Leticia, a city with a population of nearly 60,000. “Our government will resort to diplomacy to defend our national sovereignty,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic engagement in resolving the dispute.

The historical context surrounding the ownership of Santa Rosa is complex, involving treaties from 1922 and 1929, in which Peru claims jurisdiction over the island. However, Colombia argues that the island had not yet emerged from the river at the time those agreements were made, asserting that the boundary established by these treaties is at the deepest point of the Amazon. Colombian authorities maintain that Santa Rosa, formed by shifting sediment, lies on the Colombian side of this dividing line.

In response to Peru’s designation of Santa Rosa, Petro indicated plans to celebrate Colombian independence from Spain in Leticia, positioning the island’s status as a representation of national sovereignty. The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed a commitment to pursuing dialogue and cooperative efforts to address the issues surrounding the ownership of newly formed islands in the Amazon basin. In a statement, the ministry reinforced Colombia’s longstanding position that “Santa Rosa Island” has not been allocated to Peru, reiterating the necessity for balanced bilateral discussions regarding territorial claims.

The Amazon River, known as one of the world’s longest and most significant waterways, continuously reshapes its landscape through the dynamic deposition of sediment, resulting in the emergence and disappearance of islands. The island of Santa Rosa, which accommodates both forested areas and agricultural land, is an essential part of the local community, including the village of Santa Rosa de Yavari, home to less than 1,000 residents who primarily depend on tourism owing to the island’s location near the Amazon.

The Peruvian government has responded to the situation by asserting that the creation of the new district is vital for securing federal funding and tax collection, emphasizing their compliance with international law and existing bilateral agreements.

As both nations explore diplomatic avenues for addressing this complex territorial dispute, the future status of Santa Rosa remains a focal point for discussions of national sovereignty and regional cooperation in the Amazon region.

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