Rubio vows to restore Colombia ties after leftist ‘mistakes’
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Colombia, vowing to restore relations that had deteriorated under the previous leftist government. He met with President Abelardo de la Espriella and signed agreements on critical minerals and nuclear cooperation, as part of a Latin American tour to strengthen ties with conservative pro-U.S. leaders.
Why it matters
This signifies a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America, aiming to re-establish alliances and counter previous political leanings in the region, impacting regional stability and economic cooperation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) to rebuild relations with Colombia, saying the two allied nations had drifted apart under the previous leftist government in Bogota.
In a swipe at leftist former President Gustavo Petro’s administration, Mr. Rubio said President Abelardo de la Espriella’s government had inherited “a series of disasters” and was confronting “the mistakes of the last four years.”
Mr. Rubio spoke in Barranquilla after talks with De la Espriella and the signing of agreements on critical minerals supply chains and civilian nuclear cooperation.
He said the United States and Colombia had an opportunity not only to restore their “natural relations” but also to enter a new phase of cooperation “even stronger” than before.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in