Foreign relations of Colombia explained

Colombia seeks diplomatic and commercial relations with all countries, regardless of their ideologies or political or economic systems. For this reason, the Colombian economy is quite open, relying on international trade and following guidelines given by international law.

Since 2008, Colombia's Ministry of Trade and Commerce has either reached or strengthened Bilateral Trade Agreements with South Korea, Japan and China^[1] building stronger commerce interchange and development in the Pacific Rim.

Regional relations have also vastly improved under the Santos Administration (2010–2018). Issues however remain regarding spillover of the FARC leftist-terrorist group, being chased out of hiding in rural areas of Colombia and finding safe havens in non-monitored areas of bordering states. The FARC numbers have significantly diminished in the last decade, to an estimated 5,000–7,000. And while joint military collaboration has steadily increased with the bordering countries of Brazil, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela, there have been tensions between Colombia and Ecuador regarding the issue. In 2002, the Ecuadorian government closed its main border crossing with Colombia, restricting its hours of operation. Ecuador continues to voice its concerns over an influx of émigrés stemming from guerilla activity at its borders. Evidence has since emerged however, suggesting that a significant number of the FARC's foot soldiers in and around the Colombia–Ecuador border consist of Ecuadorian émigrés who joined the leftist terrorist group out of need.^[2] Returning Ecuadorian émigrés have faced re-entry restrictions.

In 2012, relations with Nicaragua and Venezuela were tested over territorial island disputes. Bilateral committees are negotiating the dispute with Venezuela over waters in the Gulf of Venezuela.

Background

In 1969, Colombia formed what is now the Andean Community along with Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru (Venezuela joined in 1973, and Chile left in 1976).

In the 1980s, Colombia broadened its bilateral and multilateral relations, joining the Contadora Group, the Group of Eight (now the Rio Group), and the Non-Aligned Movement, which it chaired from 1994 until September 1998. In addition, it has signed free trade agreements with Chile, Mexico, and Venezuela.

Colombia has traditionally played an active role in the United Nations and the Organization of American States and in their subsidiary agencies. Former President César Gaviria became Secretary General of the OAS in September 1994 and was reelected in 1999. Colombia was a participant in the December 1994 and April 1998 Summits of the Americas and followed up on initiatives developed at the summit by hosting two post-summit, ministerial-level meetings on trade and science and technology.

Colombia regularly participates in international fora, including CICAD, the Organization of American States' body on money laundering, chemical controls, and drug abuse prevention. Although the Colombian Government ratified the 1988 UN Convention on Narcotics in 1994—the last of the Andean governments to do so—it took important reservations, notably to the anti-money-laundering measures, asset forfeiture and confiscation provisions, maritime interdiction, and extradition clauses. Colombia subsequently withdrew some of its reservations, most notably a reservation on extradition.

International relations

Disputes – international

Maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andrés y Providencia and Quita Sueño Bank.^[3] The United States disputes sovereignty with Colombia over the Serranilla Bank and the Bajo Nuevo Bank. Quita Sueño Bank is claimed by the United States to be a submerged reef, and thus does not recognize the sovereignty of any nation over the bank.

Membership of international organizations

The major organizations in which Colombia is a member include: the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, Andean Pact, Caribbean Development Bank Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Group of 3, Group of 11, Group of 24, Group of 77, Inter-American Development Bank, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Chamber of Commerce, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Labour Organization, International Maritime Organization, International Maritime Satellite Organization, International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Olympic Committee, International Organization for Migration, International Organization for Standardization, International Telecommunication Union, International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, International Trade Union Confederation, Latin American Economic System, Latin American Integration Association, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States (OAS), Permanent Court of Arbitration, Rio Group, United Nations (UN), UN Conference on Trade and Development, UNESCO, UN Industrial Development Organization, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, Universal Postal Union, World Confederation of Labour, World Federation of Trade Unions, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Meteorological Organization, World Tourism Organization, and World Trade Organization. An OAS observer has monitored the government's peace process with the paramilitaries, lending the negotiations much-needed international credibility. The United States helps Colombia secure favorable treatment from the IMF.

Major international treaties

Regional treaties include the Andean Pact, now known as the Andean Community, which also includes Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru, the bodies and institutions making up the Andean Integration System (AIS). Colombia has signed free-trade agreements with Chile, Mexico, and Venezuela.

Its recent trade agreements with Korea, China and Japan, have focused on economic and technical cooperation between those nations. Within the regional Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom), Colombia has also deepened economic and medical science research collaboration agreements. Colombia has also signed and ratified 105 international treaties or agreements relating to the protection of the environment. These include the Antarctic Treaty and Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and conventions on Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, and Wetlands. It has signed, but not ratified, the Antarctic-Environmental Protocol and conventions on Law of the Sea and Marine Dumping. Colombia also has signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Tlatelolco Treaty. By 1975 signatories to the 1974 Declaration of Ayacucho, of which Colombia was one, had decided on limitations to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

Gaining all 186 votes, Colombia served on the U.N. Security Council from 2011 to 2012 representing Latin American and the Caribbean.

Colombia is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the United States-military (as covered under Article 98).

Domestic politics and foreign policy

International Relations scholars long emphasized international constraints, and particularly Colombia's relationship with the United States, as central to its foreign policy.^[4] In terms of foreign policy process, presidents have broad constitutional authorities, in consultation with their foreign ministers. However, since the 2000s, the influence of other domestic actors in Colombian foreign policy-making has increased. Long, Bitar, and Jiménez-Peña examine the role of the Colombian Constitutional Court, congressional politics, social movements, and electoral challengers. They find that Colombian institutions permit increasing challenges to presidential authority, and that in important cases Colombian presidents have been forced to drop their preferred foreign policies.^[5]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Colombia maintains diplomatic relations with:

	Country	Date^[6] ^[7] ^[8] ^[9] ^[10]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10		^[11]
11		^[12]
12
13
—		^[13]
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23		^[14]
24
25
26
27		^[15]
28
29
30		^[16]
31
32		^[17]
33		^[18]
34
35
36		^[19]
37
38
39
40
41
42		^[20]
—
43
44
—	(suspended)	^[21]
45
46
47
48
49		^[22]
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58		^[23]
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69		^[24]
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83		^[25]
84
85		^[26]
86
87		^[27]
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
—		^[28]
95
96
97
98
99		^[29]
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142	Afghanistan
143
144
145		^[30]
146
147		^[31]
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
—		^[32] ^[33]
—

Bilateral relations

Americas

Country	Formal relations began	Notes
Argentina	8 March 1823	Argentina has an embassy in Bogotá. Colombia has an embassy in Buenos Aires.^[34] Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States, Latin American Economic System, Latin American Integration Association, Rio Group and Union of South American Nations. List of Treaties ruling the relations Argentina and Colombia (Argentine Foreign Ministry
	19 March 1912	See Bolivia–Colombia relations Bolivia has an embassy in Bogotá. Colombia has an embassy in La Paz.
Brazil	24 April 1907	See Brazil–Colombia relations Brazil has an embassy in Bogotá and a vice-consulate in Leticia. Colombia has an embassy in Brasília and consulates-general in Manaus, São Paulo and in Tabatinga.
Canada	6 October 1952	See Canada–Colombia relations Canada has an embassy in Bogotá.^[35] Colombia has an embassy in Ottawa and consulates-general in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.^[36]
Chile	21 October 1822	See Chile–Colombia relations Both nations are members of the Pacific Alliance. Chile has an embassy in Bogotá. Colombia has an embassy in Santiago.
Ecuador	10 February 1832	See Colombia–Ecuador relations Present-day Colombia and Ecuador trace back established official diplomatic relations to December, 1831 with the signing of the Treaty of Pasto, in which both countries recognized each other as sovereign states. The Ecuadorean diplomatic mission in New Granada (Colombia) did not open until 1837. It wasn't until 1939 that Ecuador raised the diplomatic mission's status to an official embassy. Colombia did the same the following year, in 1940.^[37] Colombia has an embassy in Quito. Ecuador has an embassy in Bogotá.
Guyana	18 December 1970	Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 18 December 1970.^[38] Both countries are full members of Organization of American States, Association of Caribbean States and Union of South American Nations. Colombia is accredited to Guyana from its embassy in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela.
Mexico	3 October 1823	See Colombia–Mexico relations Colombia has an embassy in Mexico City and consulates in Cancún and Guadalajara.^[39] Mexico has an embassy in Bogotá.^[40] Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States and the Pacific Alliance.
Nicaragua	8 March 1825	See Colombia–Nicaragua relations The relationship between the two Latin American countries has evolved amid conflicts over the San Andrés y Providencia Islands located in the Caribbean close to the Nicaraguan shoreline and the maritime boundaries covering 150000km² that included the islands of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina and the banks of Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla and Quitasueño as well as the arbitrarily designed 82nd meridian west which Colombia claims as a border but which the International Court has sided with Nicaragua in disavowing.^[41] Colombia has an embassy in Managua. Nicaragua has an embassy in Bogotá.
Panama	9 July 1924	See Colombia–Panama relations Colombia has an embassy in Panama City and consulates in Colón, Jaqué and in Puerto Obaldía. Panama has an embassy in Bogotá and a consulate-general in Barranquilla.
Paraguay	27 July 1870	See Colombia–Paraguay relations Colombia has an embassy in Asunción. Paraguay has an embassy in Bogotá. Both countries are full members of Union of South American Nations, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States, Rio Group, Group of 77, Latin American Economic System and Latin American Integration Association. Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with Colombia
Peru	6 July 1822	See Colombia–Peru relations Both nations are members of the Pacific Alliance. Colombia has an embassy in Lima and a consulate-general in Iquitos. Peru has an embassy in Bogotá and a consulate-general in Leticia.
United States	19 June 1822	See Colombia–United States relations The country traditionally has had good relations with the United States. Relations were strained during the presidency of Ernesto Samper (1994–98) due to accusations of receiving illegal campaign funding from the Cali Cartel. Relations between the two countries greatly improved during the Pastrana administration (1998–2002). In January 2000, the Clinton administration pledged more than US$1 billion of mainly military assistance to Colombia to assist the antidrug component of President Pastrana's strategy known as Plan Colombia. Relations with the United States became a foreign policy priority for the Uribe administration, and Colombia became an important ally in the "War on Terrorism". In March 2002, in response to a request from U.S. President George W. Bush, the U.S. Congress lifted restrictions on U.S. assistance to Colombia to allow it to be used for counterinsurgency in addition to antidrug operations. U.S. support for Colombia's antidrug-trafficking efforts included slightly more than US$2.5 billion between 2000 and 2004, as compared with only about US$300 million in 1998. Some critics of current US policies in Colombia, such as Law Professor John Barry, claim that US influences have catalyzed internal conflicts. Colombia rejects threats and blackmail of the United States of America after the threat of Donald Trump to decertify the country as a partner in counter-narcotics efforts. Latin America rejects Trump's military threat against Venezuela.^[42] Brazil, Colombia and other countries in the region prefer to play a constructive role that would prevent a civil war in Venezuela.^[43] Colombia's Foreign Ministry said that all efforts to resolve Venezuela's crisis should be peaceful.^[44] Colombia proposed the idea of the Sustainable Development Goals and a final document was adopted by the United Nations.^[45] Colombia has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates-general in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, Orlando, San Francisco and in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[46] United States has an embassy in Bogotá.^[47]
Uruguay	25 August 1888	See Colombia–Uruguay relations Colombia has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Bogotá.
	27 November 1831	See Colombia–Venezuela relations The relationship has developed since the early 16th century, when Spanish empire colonizers created the Province of Santa Marta (now Colombia)^[48] and the Province of New Andalucia (now Venezuela).^[49] The countries share a history for achieving their independence under Simón Bolívar and becoming one nation—the Gran Colombia—which dissolved in the 19th century.^[50] Following then, the overall relationship between the two countries has vacillated between cooperation and bilateral struggle. In February 2019, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro cut diplomatic relations with Colombia after Colombian President Ivan Duque helped Venezuelan opposition politicians deliver humanitarian aid to their country. Colombia recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate president. In January 2020, Colombia rejected Maduro’s proposal that the two countries restore diplomatic relations.^[51] Following the election of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the two countries restored diplomatic relations in August 2022.^[52] Colombia has an embassy in Caracas and maintains several consulates throughout the country. Venezuela has an embassy in Bogotá and maintains several consulates throughout the country.

Asia

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Armenia	22 December 1994	Both countries established diplomatic relations on December 22, 1994.^[53] Armenia is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Brasília, Brazil. Colombia is accredited to Armenia from its embassy in Moscow, Russia.
Azerbaijan	13 December 1994	See Azerbaijan–Colombia relations Azerbaijan has an embassy in Bogotá. Colombia has an embassy in Baku.^[54]
China	7 February 1980	See China–Colombia relations China has an embassy in Bogotá. Colombia has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
India	19 January 1959	See main article: Colombia–India relations. The relationship between the two countries has been gradually increasing with more frequent diplomatic visits to promote political, commercial cultural and academic exchanges. Colombia is currently the commercial point of entry into Latin America for Indian companies.^[55] India has an embassy in Bogotá.^[56] Colombia has an embassy in New Delhi.^[57] ^[58]
Indonesia	15 September 1980	See main article: Colombia–Indonesia relations. Both countries are members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, the Cairns Group, and the CIVETS block. Colombia has an embassy in Jakarta. Indonesia has an embassy in Bogotá.
Israel	1 July 1957 Diplomatic Severed 1 May 2024	See main article: Colombia–Israel relations. In an article in the Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs, Marcos Peckel, a Colombian scholar noted that Colombian-Israeli relations can be looked through the lenses of military cooperation, trade links, education and culture, and recognition of Palestine.^[59] Militarily, Colombia was one of the first countries to give Israel weapons and engage in arms deals, which has since been an ongoing bilateral agreement. Since, Israel and Colombia have shared intelligence, and as Peckel explains, several pieces of Israeli technology. Trade-wise, too, both countries have a strong relationship. The Free Trade Agreement, a pending agreement between Colombia and Israel, has the potential to further strengthen these relationships by boosting Colombian imports in Israel and increasing the presence of Israeli technology in Colombia. The spheres of education and culture between Colombia and Israel are deeply interwoven through Israeli scholarships to Colombians and a presence of media in each country. "Colombia supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel within mutually agreed-upon borders. It considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal but strongly condemns Palestinian terrorism, and it advocates for a lasting peace based on the two-state solution". On resolutions in the UN General Assembly that compared Zionism to racism and wanted to establish a "right to return" for Palestinians, Colombia abstained. In 2018, Colombia officially recognized the State of Palestine. Despite creating a bump in the relations between the countries, the two have re-established strong relations. In 1 May 2024 Colombia broke diplomatic ties with Israel as a result of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. Colombia has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel has an embassy in Bogotá.
Japan	25 May 1908	See main article: Colombia–Japan relations. The relationship was officially established in 1908, only interrupted between 1942 and 1954 with the surge of World War II. Relations are mostly based on commercial trade that has favored Japan interests, cultural exchanges and technological and philanthropic aid to Colombia.^[60] Colombia has an embassy in Tokyo. Japan has an embassy in Bogotá.
Malaysia	19 August 1987^[61]	See main article: Colombia–Malaysia relations. Ambassador of Colombia in Malaysia also accredited to Vietnam, while Malaysian Embassy in Lima, Peru, accredited to Colombia. Both are members of United Nations, Movement of Non-Aligned Cooperation Forum Asia-Latin America (FEALAC) and Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC). Colombia has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.
Pakistan	19 June 1970	Both Pakistan and Colombia do not enjoy cordial dealings with some of their neighbours. Another common aspect that makes the task of both Colombian and Pakistan Armed forces even tougher is the difficult terrain they have been encountering. Poverty, income inequality, destruction and degradation of other vital organs of the state have consequently been the natural by-products of insubordination and rebellions in both Colombia and Pakistan. Both the countries have similar Gross Domestic Products (GDPs) too. While the Colombian Purchasing Power Parity GDP stands at $460.406 billion, Pakistan s GDP stands at $464.897 billion (latest IMF statistics). Like Colombia, Pakistan too also witnesses a large presence of the US military personnel and civilian contractors on its territory. Colombia established diplomatic relations with Pakistan in 1980, but bilateral trade between the two countries was negligible which needed to be improved for the benefit of both nations. Colombia is accredited to Pakistan from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Pakistan is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Brasília, Brazil.
Philippines	1 January 1946	See Colombia-Philippines relations Colombia has an embassy in Manila. Philippines is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Brasília, Brazil.
	10 March 1962^[62]	See Colombia–South Korea relations Formal diplomatic relations between South Korea and Colombia started on 10 March 1962. Colombia sent about 1,000 men to Korea to assist South Korea during the Korean War. Colombia has an embassy in Seoul. South Korea has an embassy in Bogotá.
Turkey	10 April 1959^[63]	See Colombia–Turkey relations Colombia has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Bogotá. Both countries are members of OECD and WTO. Direct flights from Istanbul to Bogotá commenced in May 2016. Trade volume between the two countries was US$1.7 billion USD in 2019 (Colombian exports/imports: 1.46/0.25 billion USD.^[64]

Europe

Under the Uribe administration, Colombia's relations with the European Union (EU) have been cordial. Representatives of the EU have been critical of Colombia's antiguerrilla and antidrug strategies in several respects. The EU is particularly concerned about the potential for increased human rights abuses within Colombia at the hands of both government forces and illegal armed groups, and it has continued to distance itself from Plan Colombia. The EU is in favor of a negotiated solution to the nation's internal conflict. EU aid to Colombia has mainly consisted of social, economic and development investments.

In 2004, the EU as an entity did not offer unrestricted support for the Uribe government's peace initiative with paramilitaries, citing concerns over the possible lack of a credible and comprehensive peace strategy and its application, but it did approve US$2 million in aid for the process. Individual EU members such Sweden, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands also provided limited support on their own.^[65]

Country	Formal relations began	Notes
Andorra	27 November 1995	Andorra does not have an accreditation to Colombia. Colombia's embassy in Madrid, Spain is accredited to the Principality of Andorra. In February 2013, Colombia's Foreign Minister at the time made an official visit to Andorra in order to strengthen relations between the two countries.^[66]
Austria	10 January 1920	See Austria–Colombia relations Austria has an embassy in Bogotá. Colombia has an embassy in Vienna.
Belarus	9 December 1992	On May 19, 1998, Colombia and Belarus signed a collaboration agreement between both countries.^[67] Belarus is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Quito, Ecuador. Colombia is accredited to Belarus from its embassy in Moscow, Russia.
Belgium	1873	Belgium has an embassy in Bogotá.^[68] Colombia has an embassy in Brussels^[69]
Czech Republic	January 1993	Colombia is accredited to the Czech Republic from its embassy in Vienna, Austria.(^[70] Austria).^[71] Czech Republic has an embassy in Bogotá. The first connections between Czechia and Colombia occurred in the times of colonial era, during missionary activities of Jesuits in that area.^[72] In 1860/1870s the Czech botanist Benedikt Roezl discovered the cycad plant Zamia roezlii on the Pacific coast in Colombia. The plant is named after him. In 1922 began the consulary activities between Czechoslovakia and Colombia. Since 1926 the Colombian consul had his seat in Prague. In 1935 both countries agreed to interchange the ambassadors. In 2008, during his visit in Colombia, the Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek negotiated a possible sale of Aero L-159 Alca combat aircraft with Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.^[73] ^[74]
France	30 May 1892	See Colombia–France relations Officially the relations between Colombian and France began on May 30, 1892 with the signature of an agreement intended to establish French nationals in Colombia, increase commerce and navigation between the two nations.^[75] Colombia has an embassy in Paris. France has an embassy in Bogotá.
Germany	1 June 1872	See Colombia–Germany relations Colombia has an embassy in Berlin and a consulate-general in Frankfurt. Germany has an embassy in Bogotá.
Hungary	28 March 1973	See Colombia–Hungary relations Colombia has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy in Bogotá.
Iceland	11 September 1981	Colombia is accredited to Iceland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Iceland is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Ottawa, Canada.^[76] Iceland and Colombia have a Free Trade Agreement through the EFTA^[77]
Ireland	10 November 1999	See Colombia–Ireland relations Colombia has an embassy in Dublin. Ireland has an embassy in Bogotá.^[78]
Italy	13 March 1864	Colombia has an embassy in Rome and a consulate-general in Milan.^[79] Italy has an embassy in Bogotá.
	3 March 2019	Colombia recognized Kosovo on August 6, 2008.^[80] Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 March 2019.^[81] Kosovo will open an embassy in Bogotá.^[82]
Liechtenstein	24 October 2001	Colombia is accredited to Liechtenstein from its embassy in Bern, Switzerland. Liechtenstein and Colombia have a Free Trade Agreement through the EFTA.^[83]
Monaco	15 December 2000	Colombia is accredited to Monaco from its embassy in Paris, France. Monaco has an honorary consulate in Bogotá. Colombia and Monaco first stablished diplomatic relations in December 2000. In 2012, Colombia's ambassador to France at the time, presented to Monaco its credentials becoming the first non-resident ambassador to the country.^[84]
Netherlands	1 May 1829	On 16 and 17 February 2022 president Iván Duque visited the Netherlands. There were talks about trade and judicial cooperation. Also a bilateral treaty for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance was signed by Dutch PM Mark Rutte and president Duque.^[85] Colombia has an embassy in The Hague, a consulate-general in Amsterdam, and consulates in Willemstad (Curaçao) and in Oranjestad (Aruba). Netherlands has an embassy in Bogotá.
Poland	18 November 1933	See Colombia–Poland relations Colombia has an embassy in Warsaw. Poland has an embassy in Bogotá.
Portugal	9 April 1857	Colombia has an embassy in Lisbon. Portugal has an embassy in Bogotá.
	25 June 1935	See Colombia–Russia relations Colombia has an embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Bogotá.
Serbia	December 1966	Both countries established diplomatic relations in December 1966.^[86] A number of bilateral agreements in various fields have been concluded and are in force between both countries.^[87] Colombia is accredited to Serbia from its embassy in Vienna, Austria. Serbia is accredited to Colombia from its embassy in Brasília, Brazil.
Spain	30 January 1881	See Colombia–Spain relations Colombia has an embassy in Madrid; consulates-general in Barcelona and Seville and consulates in Bilbao, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia.^[88] Spain has an embassy in Bogotá.^[89]
Sweden		11 December 1874	Colombia has an embassy in Stockholm.^[90] Sweden has an embassy in Bogotá.
United Kingdom	18 April 1825	See main article: page and Colombia–United Kingdom relations. Colombia established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 18 April 1825. Colombia maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Colombia through its embassy in Bogotá.^[91] Both countries share common membership of the OECD, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Andean countries–UK Free Trade Agreement.^[92] Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement,^[93] and a Security Agreement.^[94]

Oceania

Country	Formal relations began	Notes
Australia	9 January 1975	Australia has an embassy in Bogotá.^[95] Colombia has an embassy in Canberra and a consulate-general in Sydney.^[96]
New Zealand	1 May 1978	See Colombia–New Zealand relations Colombia is accredited to New Zealand from its embassy in Canberra, Australia and maintains a consulate-general in Auckland.^[97] New Zealand has an embassy in Bogotá.^[98]

Transnational issues

Narcotics and terrorism

By the 1990s, Colombia had become the world's leading supplier of refined cocaine and a growing source for heroin. More than 90% of the cocaine that entered in the 1990s the United States was produced, processed, or transshipped in Colombia. The cultivation of coca dropped between 1995 and 1999 from 3,020 to 1100km2, primarily in areas where government control was more active.

Despite the death of Medellín cartel drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in 1993 and the arrests of major Cali cartel leaders in 1995 and 1996, Colombian drug cartels remain among the most sophisticated criminal organizations in the world, controlling cocaine processing, international wholesale distribution chains, and markets. In 1999 Colombian police arrested over 30 narcotraffickers, most of them extraditable, in "Operation Millennium" involving extensive international cooperation. More arrests were made in a following "Operation Millennium II."

Colombia is engaged in a broad range of narcotics control activities. Through aerial spraying of herbicide and manual eradication, Colombia has attempted to keep coca, opium poppy, and cannabis cultivation from expanding. The government has committed itself to the eradication of all illicit crops, interdiction of drug shipments, and financial controls to prevent money laundering. Alternative development programs were introduced in 1999.

Corruption and intimidation by traffickers complicate the drug-control efforts of the institutions of government. Colombia passed revised criminal procedures code in 1993 that permits traffickers to surrender and negotiate lenient sentences in return for cooperating with prosecutors. In December 1996 and February 1997, however, the Colombian Congress passed legislation to toughen sentencing, asset forfeiture, and money-laundering penalties.

In November 1997, the Colombian Congress amended the constitution to permit the extradition of Colombian nationals, albeit not retroactively. In late 1999, President Pastrana authorized the first extradition in almost 10 years of a Colombian trafficker to stand trial for U.S. crimes. Three such extraditions to the United States have taken place, the most recent in August 2000, with cases against others pending in Colombian courts. Under the Pastrana administration, Plan Colombia was developed and implemented with U.S. backing.^[99]

During the presidency of Álvaro Uribe, the government applied more military pressure on the FARC and other outlawed groups. After the offensive, many security indicators improved. Colombia achieved a great decrease in cocaine production, leading White House drug czar R. Gil Kerlikowske to announce that Colombia is no longer the world's biggest producer of cocaine.^{[100] [101]}

In addition to the challenge posed to the United States by Colombian drug trafficking, illegal Colombian immigrants in the United States are an issue in Colombia-U.S. relations. According to figures from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Colombia is the fourth-leading source country of illegal immigration to the United States. According to its estimates, the number of illegal Colombian residents in the United States almost tripled from 51,000 in 1990 to 141,000 in 2000.^[102] According to the US Census Bureau, the number of authorized Colombian immigrants in the United States in 2006 was 801,363.^[103]

Colombia rejected threats and blackmail of the United States of America after the threat of Donald Trump to decertify the country as a partner in counter-narcotics efforts.

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Colombia
• List of diplomatic missions of Colombia
• Security issues in Colombia

Notes and References

1. Evan Ellis. Robert. 2017. Chinese Advances and Setbacks in Colombia. IndraStra Global. 5. 7.
2. Web site: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees . Ecuador . United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) . 2013-04-22.
3. Long. Tom. Bitar. Sebastián. Jiménez-Peña. Gabriel. Domestic Contestation and Presidential Prerogative in Colombian Foreign Policy. Bulletin of Latin American Research. 10–11. 10.1111/blar.12987. 1470-9856. 2019. 39. 4. free.
4. Web site: Nuevos enfoques para el estudio de las relaciones internacionales de Colombia. Saavedra. Maria Victoria Gonzalez. 2017-11-30. Universidad de los Andes - Colombia - Sitio oficial. es. 2019-09-06.
5. Long. Tom. Bitar. Sebastián. Jiménez-Peña. Gabriel. Domestic Contestation and Presidential Prerogative in Colombian Foreign Policy. Bulletin of Latin American Research. 10.1111/blar.12987. 1470-9856. 2019. 39. 4. 466–482. free.
6. Web site: Europa . 29 June 2023 . es.
7. Web site: América . 29 June 2023 . es.
8. Web site: África, Medio Oriente y Asia Central . 29 June 2023 . es.
9. Web site: ASIA PACÍFICO . 29 June 2023 . es.
10. Web site: 14 April 2015 . Directorio del Cuerpo Diplomático y Consular acreditado en la República de Colombia . 4 July 2023 . cancilleria.gov.co . 7–12 . es.
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14. Web site: Présentation et historique . 10 March 2022 . fr.
15. News: Barbosa . Fernando . 24 October 2018 . Así comenzaron las relaciones diplomáticas entre Japón y Colombia . es . 29 June 2023.
16. Web site: RELACIONES DIPLOMÁTICAS DE LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200806131148/https://mire.gob.pa/sites/default/files/documentos/Trasnsparencia/gestion-anual-2011-2012.pdf . 6 August 2020 . 30 November 2021 . 195.
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18. Book: Memoria del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores al Congreso . 1935 . 263 . es.
19. Ardila . Daniel Gutiérrez . November 2014 . Colombia y Haití: historia de un desencuentro (1819-1831) . Secuencia . es . 81.
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23. Web site: Bulletin de documentation_1971_3 . 24 May 2023 . sip.gouvernement.lu . 39 . fr.
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35. Web site: Embassy of Canada in Colombia.
36. Web site: Embassy of Colombia in Ottawa.
37. http://www.mmrree.gov.ec/mre/documentos/ministerio/archivo_historico/radi/colombia.pdf mmrree.gov.ec diplomatic relations of Colombia and Ecuador
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40. Web site: Embassy of Mexico in Bogotá).
41. Web site: LA Times: Border tensions rise in Central & South America.
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45. Web site: A Short History of the SDGS. . 20 September 2016 . impakter.com . 8 October 2017.
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49. Web site: Ruano. Maru. Cumaná. Catholic.net. 2007-11-26. es.
50. Web site: Mabry . Donald J . Gran Colombia and the United Provinces of Central America . Historical Text Archive . 2007-11-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071022144317/http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=354 . 2007-10-22 . dead .
51. Web site: Reuters. Reuters.
52. Web site: 2022-08-29 . Venezuela and Colombia restore diplomatic ties after three years . 2022-08-29 . France 24 . en.
53. Web site: Colombia - Bilateral Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia . 2017-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170702160759/http://mfa.am/en/country-by-country/co/ . 2017-07-02 . dead .
54. Web site: Embassy of Colombia in Baku.
55. http://www.minrelext.gov.co/WebContentManager/webapp/display.jsp?sid=9902&pid=7256 Colombian ministry of foreign affairs: Colombia-India relations
56. Web site: Indian Embassy in Colombia . 2015-05-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150512024119/http://www.embajadaindia.org/en . 2015-05-12 . dead .
57. Web site: Colombia Embassy in India . 2015-05-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150512040645/http://www.embajadaindia.org/en/embassy/colombia-in-india . 2015-05-12 . dead .
58. Web site: Colombian Embassy in India.
59. Colombia and Israel: Toward a Special Relationship. 10.1080/23739770.2019.1727222. 2019. Peckel. Marcos. Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs. 13. 3. 353–363. 216470716. subscription.
60. Colombian embassy in Japan
61. Web site: (Spanish) Relaciones bilaterales . 2012-12-08 . Embassy of the Republic of Colombia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130204064631/http://www.ecolombia.com.my/bilateral.html . 2013-02-04 .
62. Web site: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea . www.mofa.go.kr . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140122011142/http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/latinamerica/countries/20070803/1_24570.jsp?menu=m_30_30 . 22 January 2014 . dead.
63. Web site: Cancilleria Turkey. 5 November 2011.
64. Web site: Relations between Turkey and Colombia.
65. http://www.cipresearch.fuhem.es/pazyseguridad/docs/documento_estrategico_2_UEColombia.pdf
66. http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/andorra Principado de Andorra | Cancillería
67. Web site: Cancillería.
68. Web site: Belgian embassy in Bogotá (in Spanish).
69. Web site: Colombian embassy in Brussels . 2009-05-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120112105858/http://www.emcolbru.org/english.htm . 2012-01-12 . dead .
70. Web site: Czech embassy in Bogotá (in Czech and Spanish only).
71. http://www.embcol.or.at/index_eng.htm Colombian embassy in Vienna (also accredited to the Czech Republic)
72. Web site: Předseda vlády M. Topolánek v Kolumbii pozval prezidenta A.Uriba na návštěvu ČR . Vláda České republiky (Czech Government – official website) . 2009-05-13. cs.
73. Web site: PM Topolánek visits Colombia . Radio Prague – News . 2009-05-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081001193147/http://www.radio.cz/en/news/104078 . 2008-10-01 .
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75. http://www.ambafrance-co.org/spip.php?article273 La France en Colombie: Relations franco-colombiennes » Relations politiques » Présentation et historique
76. Web site: Embassy of Iceland in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . 2016-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317141641/http://www.iceland.is/iceland-abroad/ca/about-the-embassy/jurisdiction/colombia . 2016-03-17 . dead .
77. Web site: Cancillería.
78. Web site: Embassy of Ireland in Colombia.
79. Web site: Colombian embassy in Rome (in Italian and Spanish only).
80. Web site: EL MINISTERIO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES DE COLOMBIA DECLARA QUE RECONOCE A LA REPUBLICA DE KOSOVO. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombia . . 2008-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080813010358/http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/WebContentManager/Repositorys/site0/06AGO08KOSOVO.pdf . 2008-08-13. es.
81. Web site: Kosova dhe Kolumbia vendosin marrëdhënie diplomatike. 2019-03-03. KOHA.net. sq-AL. 2020-01-10.
82. Web site: Following the meeting w/ #Colombia @CancilleriaCol FM @CarlosHolmesTru last month, #Kosovo and #Colombia have established diplomatic relations by exchanging Amb. #Kosovo will open its resident Emb in Bogota and #Colombia will appoint non-res Amb from Italy. Great coop ahead!pic.twitter.com/4fCHsLlpDe. Pacolli. Behgjet. 2019-03-02. @pacollibehgjet. en. 2020-01-10.
83. Web site: Cancillería.
84. Web site: Principado de Mónaco Cancillería.
85. Koning en minister-president ontvangen president van Colombia (Dutch only
86. Web site: Colombia . 2016-12-31 . 2017-01-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170101003634/http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/foreign-policy/bilateral-issues/96-bilateral-issues/12257-colombia . dead .
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88. Web site: Colombian embassy in Madrid.
89. https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/bogota/es/Paginas/index.aspx Embassy of Spain in Bogotá
90. Web site: Embajada De Colombia En Suecia . Embajadacolombia.se . 2013-04-22.
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94. Web site: Freeman. Daniel. Colombia and United Kingdom sign security agreement. 21 January 2014. Colombia Reports. 5 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240604231838/https://colombiareports.com/amp/colombia-united-kingdom-sign-security-agreement/. 4 June 2024. live.
95. Web site: Embassy of Australia in Bogotá.
96. Web site: Embassy of Colombia in Canberra.
97. Web site: Consulate-General of Colombia in Auckland, New Zealand.
98. Web site: Embassy of New Zealand in Bogotá . 2018-02-11 . 2018-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212125938/https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/latin-america/colombia/new-zealand-embassy/ . dead .
99. Book: Long, Tom. Latin America Confronts the United States by Tom Long. November 2015. Cambridge Core. 10.1017/cbo9781316343890. 2019-09-06. 9781316343890.
100. News: Colombia is no longer the world's biggest producer of cocaine.. bbc.co.uk. es. 24 April 2013.
101. News: Colombia no longer top cocaine producer. usatoday.com. 24 April 2013. 2012-07-30.
102. Web site: Office of Policy and Planning U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Estimates of the illegal immigrant population residing in the United States: 1990 to 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20061101013719/http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/Ill_Report_1211.pdf . 2006-11-01 . live. 2012-03-04.
103. U.S. Census Bureau, Selected Population Profile in the United States: Colombians U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved on 2008-02-07. "S0201. Selected Population Profile in the United States; Population Group: Colombian; Data Set: 2006 American Community Survey; Survey: 2006 American Community Survey. (Via: Main>Data Sets>American Community Surveys>Selected Population Profiles (Geographic Type=Nation, Ethnic Group=Colombian)".