Peru Protests Colombia's Military Overflight of Santa Rosa Island, Heightening Border Tensions

Peru has protested Colombia's military flight over Santa Rosa Island, claiming a "grave violation" of its sovereignty. The island, with 3,000 inhabitants, has been a source of tension between the two countries, with Peru claiming it as its own and Colombia seeing it as strategic to maintain access to the Amazon River. The incident highlights rising tensions over the island's ownership and its implications for both countries.

Peru has lodged a formal protest with Colombia over the overflight of a Colombian military plane that reportedly violated Peru's national airspace. The incident, which occurred over Santa Rosa Island, has escalated tensions between the two Andean nations over the disputed territory.

Santa Rosa Island, with a population of approximately 3,000 inhabitants, has been a source of contention for decades. Peru claims the island based on treaties signed in 1922 and 1929, while Colombia argues that the island did not exist at the time of these agreements and therefore is not subject to them [1].

The island's strategic importance lies in its potential to disrupt Colombia's access to the Amazon River. As the river shifts its course, it may leave more sediment between Colombia's southernmost city, Leticia, and Santa Rosa Island, risking Leticia's access to the waterway in the future [1].

In a letter to Colombian authorities, Peru's foreign ministry expressed its "firm and energetic rejection" of the military plane's overflight, describing it as a "grave violation" of its sovereignty [1]. This incident follows Peru's recent move to pass a law declaring Santa Rosa a district within Loreto province, a move Colombia has criticized as unilateral and potentially disruptive to its national sovereignty [2].

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has accused Peru of annexing the island and has warned that Peru's actions could block Leticia's access to the Amazon River, threatening the city's commercial life [2]. Petro has called for diplomatic efforts to determine the island's nationality and has vowed to hold celebrations in Leticia to commemorate Colombian independence from Spain [2].

The border dispute has been ongoing for nearly a century, with Peru administering the island for decades despite Colombia's claims. The Amazon River's dynamic nature, which can create and erase islands, adds complexity to the dispute [3].

The incident highlights the potential economic and strategic implications of the border dispute for both countries. The island's status could impact trade, tourism, and access to the Amazon River, which is crucial for both nations. As tensions rise, diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute will be key to maintaining stability and preventing further escalation.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-09/peru-protests-colombia-military-s-flight-over-santa-rosa-island
[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/5/colombias-president-petro-accuses-peru-of-annexing-disputed-amazon-island
[3] https://apnews.com/article/colombia-peru-amazon-island-dispute-209376c4d39e69c13d4c08d4e5b1ce02