AGP Executive Report

Protests and Rights: Thousands joined Colombia’s first nationwide strike against President Abelardo de la Espriella, opposing budget cuts and economic reforms. Reports from some cities described tear gas, arrests and clashes, as a new decree expands police powers to disperse protests. Israel Ties: Colombia opened an embassy in Jerusalem, reversing the previous government’s break with Israel and restoring a free-trade deal. The shift drew protests at home and condemnation from several governments, including Qatar and Algeria, over Jerusalem’s disputed status. Regional Security: The U.S. is deploying about 600 soldiers to Latin America for training, with plans for exercises alongside forces in Colombia and Honduras as Washington expands its anti-cartel campaign. Climate and Health: Colombia ranked first in a global review of climate plans that include public health, scoring 29 out of 32.

Israel Ties: Colombia opened an embassy in Jerusalem, restoring diplomatic ties and free trade with Israel. Palestinian, Arab and Saudi officials condemned the move, saying it challenges the city’s disputed status. Protests: Demonstrators rallied in major cities against President Abelardo de la Espriella’s policies. A new decree expanding police powers over protests drew opposition accusations of intimidation and threats to peaceful assembly. Energy Risks: The government warned that electricity shortages could emerge as early as April 2027 if El Niño persists, reservoirs fall and new power projects remain delayed; nationwide blackouts are not inevitable. Peace and Justice: Colombia’s peace tribunal charged former FARC leaders with crimes against Indigenous communities, while the army said it killed four FARC dissidents in an operation in Catatumbo.

Israel Ties: Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem, a sharp shift in policy under President Abelardo de la Espriella. Protests and Policing: Ahead of nationwide demonstrations over economic and security policies, the government widened police powers to break up roadblocks. Critics warn the rules could invite excessive force. Peace and Security: Colombia’s peace tribunal says former FARC leaders committed war crimes against Indigenous communities. Separately, four FARC dissidents were killed in a Catatumbo military operation; authorities said one was a 16-year-old girl, and three soldiers were wounded. Climate Preparedness: A new UNDP roadmap gives all 32 capital cities guidance to prepare for El Niño, including water shortages, fires and threats to food security. Economic Pressures: September inflation reached 6.29%, driven by services, while the IMF expects Colombia’s growth to fall below the Latin American average.

Security: Four suspected FARC dissidents, including a 16-year-old girl, were killed in a military operation in Catatumbo; three soldiers were wounded by a mine. Peace and Justice: Colombia’s peace tribunal charged 10 former FARC members with war crimes against five Indigenous groups, including killings, torture and forced displacement. Officials also warn budget cuts could hamper the tribunal and the search for the disappeared. Protests: More than 4,000 anti-riot police are set to deploy in Bogotá for Wednesday’s demonstrations against President Abelardo de la Espriella, with former president Gustavo Petro expected to join marchers. Economy and Food: The peso fell 2.9% as Colombia’s inflation reached 6.29%; the IMF forecasts 2.2% growth this year, below the regional average. One in five households remains unsure where its next meal will come from. Culture: Poet Piedad Bonnett won Spain’s 2026 Federico García Lorca International Poetry Prize, bringing fresh attention to Colombian literature.

Security and Peace: Colombia’s new government told the UN that more than 132,000 people were killed in the decade after the 2016 FARC accord and armed-group membership has climbed to nearly 30,000; the figures have not been independently verified. The UN urged faster implementation as fighting intensified in Cauca, where rebels set off a car bomb outside a toll booth. U.S. Ties: President Abelardo de La Espriella and Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed regional security and closer cooperation in a phone call. Economy: Inflation rose to 6.29% in September, while the peso fell 2.9% after a surprise central-bank rate hike and a stronger dollar. Colombia is also discussing a possible return of Mazda vehicle assembly after 12 years. Coffee: Production fell 15% to 12.65 million bags in the 2025–26 season, while weaker prices add pressure on growers.

Cauca Violence: A car bomb at a toll booth near El Bordo injured at least three civilians as clashes between the military and rebel factions intensify. Recent attacks blamed on the Carlos Patiño front and ELN also killed two soldiers; the government has halted peace talks with armed groups. Peace Accord: The UN urged Colombia to speed up implementation of the 2016 accord, warning that armed factions have grown to an estimated 28,000 members and that former fighters still face security and economic hurdles. Venezuela Corruption Case: Colombian businessman Alvaro Pulido, a longtime associate of Alex Saab, was transferred from Venezuelan custody to the United States and is due in Miami court. Prosecutors accuse him of laundering billions tied to bribes and Venezuelan government contracts; the allegations have not been tested in court.

Venezuela-linked case: Colombian businessman Álvaro Pulido was arrested by U.S. authorities over alleged bribery and money laundering tied to Nicolás Maduro’s government and programs for food, medicine and housing. Armed conflict: An airstrike on a FARC dissident camp in Norte de Santander left at least three dead, while an explosive drone attack blamed on the ELN killed a soldier in Cauca. Amazon crimes: An Interpol-led regional crackdown made 233 arrests; in Colombia, authorities arrested 16 people in an investigation linking forest destruction to foreign companies. Diplomacy: Colombia is set to open an embassy in Jerusalem, marking a significant shift in its ties with Israel. Football: Colombia beat Peru in a Miami friendly, earning its first win since the World Cup.

Political Scandal: Former presidential adviser Eva Ferrer accused ex-first lady Verónica Alcocer of drug smuggling and moving cash on an official aircraft. President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered an Air Force inquiry; Ferrer said her claims relied on information from others, not what she witnessed herself. Diplomatic Shift: Colombia plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, reversing the diplomatic freeze imposed under Gustavo Petro and restoring closer ties with Israel. Security & Energy: The U.S. has repositioned MQ-9 Reaper drones in Colombia and Ecuador for anti-cartel operations. Colombia has also halted electricity exports to Ecuador, citing risks to its own supply. Economy: Colombian coffee production fell 15% to 12.65 million bags, while the government held talks with Mazda about potentially restarting vehicle assembly in the country.

Regional Emergency: Panama declared a state of emergency after two powerful earthquakes caused widespread damage and injured at least 27 people. More than 100 aftershocks followed; initial tsunami alerts included Colombia’s Pacific coast. Colombians in Ukraine: Russian officials say a strike hit a site near Kharkiv where Colombian personnel serving with Ukraine’s National Guard were deployed. Casualty figures have not been confirmed. Rare Species: Scientists have identified a new giant waterlily in Colombia’s upper Orinoco basin. Researchers estimate only 30 to 50 plants remain in the wild, raising concern it may be critically endangered. Coffee Economy: Colombia’s 2025–26 coffee production fell 15% to 12.65 million bags, according to industry reports. Diplomacy: Colombia plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem after restoring ties with Israel, a move that has drawn protests at home.

Regional Emergency: Panama declared a state of emergency after two powerful quakes and more than 100 aftershocks damaged homes, schools and roads. At least 27 people were injured, with no deaths reported; the shaking was felt in Colombia, and tsunami alerts were later lifted. Avianca: A Medellín–New York flight diverted to Miami after severe turbulence injured nine people, including crew; eight were taken to hospital and the FAA will investigate. Bogotá Culture: Rock al Parque marks its 30th anniversary this weekend with free concerts celebrating Colombia’s alternative music scene. Diplomacy: Former President Gustavo Petro voiced support for Sahrawi self-determination during a visit to the Sahrawi embassy in Mexico, while Colombia’s government plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem next week after restoring ties with Israel. Security & Economy: The U.S. has moved MQ-9 Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador for an anti-cartel campaign. Colombia’s coffee production fell 15% in 2025–26, to 12.65 million bags.

Panama Quake: A 7.7-magnitude earthquake damaged buildings and roads in central Panama, injuring at least 27 people. Tremors were felt in Colombia, which was among the countries briefly covered by a tsunami alert before it was lifted. Coffee: Colombia’s 2025/26 coffee output fell 15% to 12.65 million bags, a setback for a key export industry. Diplomacy: Colombia plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem next week, following the restoration of ties with Israel. Security: The U.S. has repositioned MQ-9 Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador as it expands its campaign against drug cartels. Climate: IDEAM confirmed El Niño conditions in Colombia, raising concerns about effects on water supplies, farming and energy.

Regional Emergency: A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Panama, with tremors felt in parts of Colombia. Tsunami alerts included Colombia but were later lifted; Panama reported building damage, injuries and a strong aftershock. Diplomacy: Colombia plans to open its embassy in Jerusalem next Wednesday, a major step in restoring ties with Israel under President Abelardo de la Espriella. Aviation: An Avianca flight from Medellín to New York diverted to Miami after severe turbulence; nine people were affected, and eight were hospitalized. Climate: Colombia’s authorities have officially declared the start of El Niño and warned of significant impacts.

Diplomacy: Colombia is reportedly set to open an embassy in Jerusalem next Wednesday, according to Israel’s foreign minister. The move has drawn protests in Bogotá over ties with Israel. Climate: IDEAM has confirmed strong to very strong El Niño conditions, warning of hotter, drier weather through the first half of 2027 and greater risks of water shortages and wildfires. Regional Energy: Colombia has halted electricity transfers to Ecuador, a significant turn in cross-border energy relations. Peace Process: The electoral council stripped Comunes, the party formed after the FARC’s demobilization, of its legal status for failing to meet the vote threshold—raising fresh questions about the peace accord’s political future. Biodiversity: Scientists have formally identified the Colombian giant waterlily in Guainía, but estimate only 30 to 50 plants remain in the wild.

Diplomacy: Colombia plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem next week, deepening ties with Israel under President Abelardo De la Espriella and prompting protests at home. Economy: Inflation rose in September as the government explores an IMF loan amid mounting debt and a projected fiscal deficit; economists warn that meeting loan conditions could prove difficult. Labor Politics: Former President Gustavo Petro is backing protests and threatening a general strike over demands for a higher 2027 minimum wage. Security and Rights: The government’s proposed counterterrorism law drew opposition warnings that it could enable authoritarian rule. De la Espriella also ordered state-funded legal defense for Colombian soldiers charged in the assassination of Haiti’s president. Peace Process: The former FARC party Comunes lost legal status after failing to win enough support in congressional elections, while Colombia’s transitional tribunal faces budget pressure and a looming deadline. Environment: International groups raised concerns about intimidation of Santurbán páramo defenders, while Bogotá residents near the Doña Juana landfill report persistent flies and odors. Interpol’s regional crackdown on environmental crime also led to arrests and wildlife seizures in Colombia and other countries.

Israel Ties: Hundreds protested in Bogotá against the government’s restoration of diplomatic and economic relations with Israel and plans for an embassy in Jerusalem. Uribe Case: Colombia’s Supreme Court upheld the homicide conviction of former President Álvaro Uribe’s brother. Security Policy: The government introduced a counterterrorism bill that would broaden the legal definition of terrorism. Energy: Colombia suspended electricity exports to Ecuador, citing risks to domestic supply, while the government’s backing for fracking adds to debate over the country’s energy future. Climate: El Niño is already affecting Colombia, raising concerns about food security and pressure on rural livelihoods.

Climate and Energy: El Niño is already putting pressure on Colombia, with a very strong event likely through year-end and risks to water supplies, crops, food prices and electricity bills. Colombia has also suspended power exports to Ecuador over concerns about domestic shortages. Security: The U.S. has moved Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador for anti-cartel operations as reports highlight the growing role of drones in Colombia’s conflict. President Abelardo De la Espriella’s proposed counterterrorism law would broaden the state’s powers against armed groups, including authorizing airstrikes. Crime and Environment: A messenger pigeon carrying phone cables and other contraband was intercepted at a maximum-security prison in Santander. Separately, an Interpol operation across nine countries, including Colombia, led to 233 arrests and exposed illegal wildlife and timber networks. Trade and Growth: The World Bank expects Colombia to outpace Brazil and Mexico in economic growth in 2026.