Colombia’s ambassador to the United States, Daniel Garcia Pena, returned to Washington this week in an apparent effort to ease recent diplomatic tensions. Speaking to reporters, Garcia Pena dismissed accusations of U.S. involvement in destabilizing Colombia’s government, saying, “Neither Secretary of State Marco Rubio nor the U.S. government play any role in a coup attempt or efforts to undermine Colombia.”
The remarks come after Colombian President Gustavo Petro alleged last month that Rubio was part of a right-wing plot to overthrow his administration. The accusation, made without evidence, triggered a diplomatic standoff. Both countries recalled their top diplomats for consultations amid the fallout.
Petro has since softened his tone, sending a conciliatory letter to U.S. President Donald Trump on June 23. In the message, which was released by Colombian media, Petro acknowledged his words “may have been perceived as unnecessarily harsh” and expressed a desire for “an honest and respectful conversation” between the two nations.
While the White House has not confirmed whether Trump has read the letter, officials say relations are now on a path to recovery. The U.S. chargé d’affaires in Colombia, John McNamara, is expected to return to Bogotá soon, according to Colombian government sources.
The controversy was further fueled by a report in El Pais, which cited leaked audio suggesting that former Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva sought a meeting with Rubio to discuss the possibility of removing Petro from office. The report claimed Leyva's efforts were unsuccessful. He has since left Colombia and is currently under investigation.
The episode marks a tense moment in U.S.-Colombia relations, but recent developments suggest both sides are working to restore diplomatic dialogue.