Secretary of State Marco Rubio has recalled the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim from Colombia, John T. McNamara, citing ‘baseless and reprehensible statements’ from Colombian officials. The move follows growing tensions between the U.S. and Colombia, which have been exacerbated by recent accusations from Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his former foreign minister, Alvaro Leyva, of drug-related misconduct. The State Department confirmed the recall as part of urgent consultations over the ‘baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia.’
In addition to the recall, the U.S. has announced it is pursuing other measures to underscore its concerns over the current state of the bilateral relationship. The administration emphasized that, despite policy differences, Colombia remains an essential strategic partner. The U.S. expressed a commitment to close cooperation on shared priorities such as regional security and stability, and to efforts that improve the lives of Americans and Colombians alike.
The decision to recall T. McNamara comes in the wake of allegations made by Petro, who accused ‘right-wing extremists’ of plotting to overthrow him. These accusations have intensified the already strained relationship between the U.S. and Colombia, which has seen a series of diplomatic disputes. Petro’s former foreign minister, Alvaro Leyva, has also been embroiled in controversy, having accused Petro of being a drug ‘addict’ for the second time in three weeks. Leyva reportedly published a seven-page letter on X calling for Petro to resign and alleging that the president is ‘dependent on substances that affect emotional and mental equilibrium.’
Petro, who was elected in 2022 and has a year left in office, has denied the accusations, stating that he is a ‘revolutionary’ who will not be ‘enslaved’ by drugs. The situation adds to an ongoing diplomatic struggle, with the U.S. and Colombia having faced multiple points of contention, including migration policies and accusations of corruption. The two countries had agreed in March to deploy biometric capabilities to assist in managing migration and combating criminal activity. This agreement followed a previous clash between President Donald Trump and Petro over the treatment of Colombians on deportation flights from the U.S.
In January, U.S. officials sent two flights of Colombian illegal aliens back to their country of origin, which prompted Petro to reject the flights and accuse the U.S. of ‘treating Colombian migrants as criminals.’ In response, Trump threatened to impose punitive measures, including a 25% tariff on goods from Colombia, which would increase to 50% after a week. Trump also ordered a travel ban and visa revocations for all Colombian government officials, plus ‘allies and supporters.’ However, the two countries eventually came to an agreement, allowing deportations to resume, though Petro has urged Colombian migrants to return home.