Colombia
2 items across 2 editions · last active 4 Jul 26
Forecast calls
No calls have matured here yet.
Open calls (2)
- due 10 Aug 26 De la Espriella will be inaugurated 7 August as scheduled, and Cepeda's threatened 'civil disobedience' will not materially disrupt the transfer of power.
- due 21 Aug 26 De la Espriella (inaugurated 7 Aug) will begin his pledged 90-day military crackdown on armed groups within his first two weeks in office (by 21 Aug).
In the brief
No. 4 · Saturday, 4 July 2026
Colombia's Petro asks Trump to lift his sanctions-list designation in direct call
What? President Gustavo Petro, designated by US Treasury under OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals list in October 2025 over allegations tied to rising Colombian cocaine production, spoke directly with President Trump July 3 to request removal from the list; Trump said he "will do his best" — not a firm commitment — while the two also discussed coca crop-substitution and counter-narcotics cooperation ahead of Colombia's presidential transition.
So what? A leader-to-leader opening on sanctions relief, arriving as Colombia prepares to hand power to president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, creates a window to re-anchor bilateral counter-narcotics cooperation on steadier footing regardless of whether the designation is actually lifted; a real Treasury review process opening in the coming weeks would be the signal this goes beyond a courtesy call.
No. 3 · Friday, 3 July 2026
Colombia's vice-president-elect rejects rival's call for "civil disobedience" against incoming government
What? Vice-President-elect José Manuel Restrepo called defeated candidate Iván Cepeda's call for peaceful "civil disobedience" against President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella — who takes office August 7 — an "undemocratic tantrum." Cepeda has questioned de la Espriella's eligibility over dual nationality and past U.S. contacts and says any mobilization would be coordinated with social movements.
So what? Expect the August 7 handover to proceed without materially disrupting liaison continuity or joint counter-narcotics cooperation, despite the polarized rhetoric; the decisive variable is the incoming administration's early posture on U.S. cooperation — watch its first moves for the real signal.
Related
Mission areas Partnerships & Engagement
Region South America & Caribbean