Rubio Pledges to Rebuild Colombia Ties After Leftist-Era ‘Mistakes’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed on Tuesday to rebuild ties with Colombia, saying relations between the two longtime allies had deteriorated under the country’s previous leftist government.

Taking a swipe at former President Gustavo Petro’s administration, Rubio said President Abelardo de la Espriella had inherited “a series of disasters” and was now dealing with “the mistakes of the last four years.”

Rubio made the remarks in Barranquilla following talks with De la Espriella, where the two sides signed agreements on critical mineral supply chains and civilian nuclear cooperation.

He said Washington and Bogota had an opportunity not only to restore their “natural relations” but also to usher in a new era of cooperation that would be “even stronger” than before.

The visit marks the first leg of Rubio’s Latin American tour, aimed at strengthening ties with a new generation of conservative, pro-US leaders across the region.

Rubio is also scheduled to visit Ecuador and Peru, where Washington is seeking to expand security cooperation and strengthen joint efforts to combat drug trafficking and organised crime.