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Al Jazeera
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
US and Colombia recall envoys as diplomatic rift deepens
The United States and Colombia have called home their respective top diplomats in an acceleration of worsening ties, against the backdrop of an alleged plot against Colombia's left-wing leader. Washington, DC went first, recalling its charge d'affaires John McNamara on Thursday, 'following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the government of Colombia,' State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, without giving specifics. In addition to McNamara's recall, Bruce said the United States 'is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship', without further details. Within hours, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro announced he was calling home his top diplomat in Washington, DC, in response. Ambassador Daniel Garcia-Pena 'must come to inform us of the development of the bilateral agenda,' Petro wrote on X, such as tapping South America's 'great potential for clean energy' and the fight against 'drug lords and their international finances'. The diplomatic row came on the heels of the resignation of Colombia's foreign minister earlier on Thursday – the latest top-ranking official to exit Petro's government. 'In recent days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with and that, out of personal integrity and institutional respect, I cannot support,' Laura Sarabia, who was also Petro's former chief of staff, wrote on X. Deterioration of ties Colombia was until recently one of the US's closest partners in Latin America, with decades of right-wing rule, before bilateral relations sharply deteriorated. Prosecutors in the South American nation opened an investigation this week into an alleged plot to overthrow Petro with the help of Colombian and American politicians, following the publication by the Spanish daily El Pais of recordings implicating former Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva. 'This is nothing more than a conspiracy with drug traffickers and apparently, the Colombian and American extreme right,' Petro said on Monday. During a speech in Bogota on Thursday, Petro said he did not think US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he had previously linked to the alleged overthrow attempt, was 'in the midst of a coup d'etat' against his government. 'I don't believe that a government that has Iran as its enemy and nuclear weapons pointed at it … is going to start fooling around with a coup d'etat' in Colombia, he said. In late January, the US briefly suspended consular services to retaliate for Petro's refusal to allow US military planes to return Colombian refugees and migrants to their homeland. Petro accused the US of treating them like criminals, placing them in shackles and handcuffs. The two countries issued threats and counter-threats of crippling trade tariffs of up to 50 percent. A backroom diplomatic deal involving the deployment of Colombian air force planes to collect the refugees and migrants averted a looming trade war at the eleventh hour. Al Jazeera's Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota, said the first crisis between the two countries over the deportation of migrants was resolved quickly in January. 'The current situation is obviously very worrisome as it is unclear what will happen in this case,' he said. 'But it shows that ties that were taken for granted might now be unravelling,' Rampietti added. Colombia's left-wing government also recently refused a US request to extradite two prominent rebel leaders wanted by Washington, DC, for alleged drug trafficking. Last month, Colombia was rattled by bombing attacks in Cali in the southwest of the country that killed seven people, and the attempted assassination of a conservative opposition senator and presidential hopeful, Miguel Uribe Turbay, at a campaign rally in Bogota. The eruption of violence raised fears of a return to the darker days of previous decades, of assassinations and bombings.
CNA
13 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
US, Colombia recall top diplomats as rift deepens
WASHINGTON: The United States and Colombia called home their respective envoys on Thursday (Jul 3) in an apparent acceleration of worsening ties, against the backdrop of an alleged plot against Colombia's leftist leader. Washington went first, recalling its charge d'affaires John McNamara "following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia", State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, without giving specifics. In addition to McNamara's recall, Bruce said the United States "is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship". She did not detail the actions. Within hours, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced he was calling home his top diplomat in Washington in response. Ambassador Daniel Garcia Pena "must come to inform us of the development of the bilateral agenda", Petro wrote on X, such as tapping South America's "great potential for clean energy" and the fight against "drug lords and their international finances". The diplomatic spat came on the heels of the resignation of Colombia's foreign minister earlier Thursday - the latest top-ranking official to exit Petro's government. "In recent days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with and that, out of personal integrity and institutional respect, I cannot support," Laura Sarabia, who was also Petro's former chief of staff, wrote on X. PLOT INVESTIGATION Colombia was until recently one of the United States's closest partners in Latin America. But ties have sharply deteriorated. Colombian prosecutors opened an investigation this week into an alleged plot to overthrow Petro with the help of Colombian and American politicians, following the publication by the Spanish daily El Pais of recordings implicating former foreign minister Alvaro Leyva. "This is nothing more than a conspiracy with drug traffickers and apparently, the Colombian and American extreme right," Petro said on Monday. During a speech in Bogota on Thursday, Petro said he did not think US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he had previously linked to the alleged overthrow attempt, was "in the midst of a coup d'etat" against his government. "I don't believe that a government that has Iran as its enemy and nuclear weapons pointed at it ... is going to start fooling around with a coup d'etat" in Colombia, he said. In late January, the United States briefly suspended consular services to retaliate for Petro's refusal to allow US military planes to return Colombian migrants to their homeland. Petro accused the United States of treating the migrants like criminals, placing them in shackles and handcuffs. The pair issued threats and counter threats of crippling trade tariffs of up to 50 per cent. A backroom diplomatic deal involving the deployment of Colombian Air Force planes to collect the migrants averted a looming trade war at the eleventh hour.
France 24
19 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
US, Colombia recall top diplomats as rift deepens over alleged assassination plot
The United States and Colombia called home their respective envoys on Thursday in an apparent acceleration of worsening ties, against the backdrop of an alleged plot against Colombia's leftist leader. Washington went first, recalling its charge d'affaires John McNamara "following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, without giving specifics. In addition to McNamara's recall, Bruce said the United States "is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship." She did not detail the actions. Within hours, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced he was calling home his top diplomat in Washington in response. Ambassador Daniel Garcia Pena "must come to inform us of the development of the bilateral agenda," Petro wrote on X, such as tapping South America's "great potential for clean energy" and the fight against "drug lords and their international finances." The diplomatic spat came on the heels of the resignation of Colombia's foreign minister earlier Thursday -- the latest top-ranking official to exit Petro's government. "In recent days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with and that, out of personal integrity and institutional respect, I cannot support," Laura Sarabia, Petro's former chief of staff, wrote on X. Plot investigation Colombia was until recently one of the United States's closest partners in Latin America. But ties have sharply deteriorated. Colombian prosecutors opened an investigation this week into an alleged plot to overthrow Petro with the help of Colombian and American politicians, following the publication by the Spanish daily El Pais of recordings implicating former foreign minister Alvaro Leyva. "This is nothing more than a conspiracy with drug traffickers and apparently, the Colombian and American extreme right," Petro said on Monday. In late January, the United States briefly suspended consular services to retaliate for Petro's refusal to allow US military planes to return Colombian migrants to their homeland. Petro accused the United States of treating the migrants like criminals, placing them in shackles and handcuffs. The pair issued threats and counter threats of crippling trade tariffs of up to 50 percent. A backroom diplomatic deal involving the deployment of Colombian Air Force planes to collect the migrants averted a looming trade war at the eleventh hour. Colombia's leftist government also recently refused a US request to extradite two prominent guerrilla leaders wanted by Washington for drug trafficking.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
US, Colombia recall top diplomats as rift deepens
The United States and Colombia called home their respective envoys on Thursday in an apparent acceleration of worsening ties, against the backdrop of an alleged plot against Colombia's leftist leader. Washington went first, recalling its charge d'affaires John McNamara "following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, without giving specifics. In addition to McNamara's recall, Bruce said the United States "is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship." She did not detail the actions. Within hours, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced he was calling home his top diplomat in Washington in response. Ambassador Daniel Garcia Pena "must come to inform us of the development of the bilateral agenda," Petro wrote on X, such as tapping South America's "great potential for clean energy" and the fight against "drug lords and their international finances." The diplomatic spat came on the heels of the resignation of Colombia's foreign minister earlier Thursday -- the latest top-ranking official to exit Petro's government. "In recent days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with and that, out of personal integrity and institutional respect, I cannot support," Laura Sarabia, Petro's former chief of staff, wrote on X. - Plot investigation - Colombia was until recently one of the United States's closest partners in Latin America. But ties have sharply deteriorated. Colombian prosecutors opened an investigation this week into an alleged plot to overthrow Petro with the help of Colombian and American politicians, following the publication by the Spanish daily El Pais of recordings implicating former foreign minister Alvaro Leyva. "This is nothing more than a conspiracy with drug traffickers and apparently, the Colombian and American extreme right," Petro said on Monday. In late January, the United States briefly suspended consular services to retaliate for Petro's refusal to allow US military planes to return Colombian migrants to their homeland. Petro accused the United States of treating the migrants like criminals, placing them in shackles and handcuffs. The pair issued threats and counter threats of crippling trade tariffs of up to 50 percent. A backroom diplomatic deal involving the deployment of Colombian Air Force planes to collect the migrants averted a looming trade war at the eleventh hour. Colombia's leftist government also recently refused a US request to extradite two prominent guerrilla leaders wanted by Washington for drug trafficking. als-lb/ksb/acb
South China Morning Post
21 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
US and Colombia recall their ambassadors in diplomatic tussle
Washington recalled the top diplomat from its embassy in Bogota on Thursday over statements it said were made at high levels of the Colombian government, prompting the South American country to also recall its ambassador to the United States. Advertisement US President Donald Trump's administration recalled Chargé d'Affaires ad interim John McNamara 'for urgent consultations following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia', US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. 'In addition to the recall of the Chargé, the United States is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship.' The State Department did not specify which comments it took issue with or what other measures were being pursued by Washington. After Washington's announcement, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that he was recalling Colombia's ambassador to the US, Daniel Garcia-Pena. Colombia President Gustavo Petro attends a signing ceremony in Bogota, Colombia, in June. Photo: Reuters In a lengthy social media post, Petro said the diplomat should come back to discuss the two countries' bilateral agenda, listing priorities such as climate cooperation, anti-narcotics efforts and migration policy.
