Colombia, Peru Prepare Summit Over Disputed Amazon Santa Rosa Island

Colombia and Peru are engaged in escalating diplomatic tensions over Santa Rosa Island, a river island in the Amazon whose sovereignty is disputed due to shifting river boundaries. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has firmly rejected Peruvian claims to the island, asserting Colombia's sovereignty and announcing a bilateral summit in Lima for September aimed at resolving the conflict through dialogue, with the option of international litigation if necessary. Peru, on the other hand, maintains its jurisdiction over Santa Rosa, having recently established it as a formal district within its Loreto region, and insists it acts in accordance with national law and historical treaties. The dispute is rooted in changes to the Amazon River’s flow, which have altered the island's position and raised concerns about access for Leticia, Colombia’s key Amazonian port, potentially threatening regional trade and connectivity. Both governments have exchanged strong statements, with Colombia citing the 1934 Rio de Janeiro Treaty and Peru referring to earlier agreements and continuous administrative control. The conflict reflects longstanding border uncertainties exacerbated by environmental factors and has been highlighted by Petro in a nationalist message timed with Colombia's Independence Day celebrations.