US Expresses Concern Over Political Violence and Threats in Colombia

The United States government has expressed deep concern over threats directed at Colombian opposition figures Paloma Valencia and Abelardo de la Espriella, signaling a potential strain on bilateral relations between Washington and the administration of President Gustavo Petro.

The Trump administration has indicated it is deeply concerned by the threats against Valencia and De la Espriella. These developments have led to warnings that President Petro’s actions may be putting the relationship between the United States and Colombia at risk.

Political Violence and Electoral Alarm

The threats against presidential candidates have ignited alarms in Colombia, occurring just over a month before the scheduled elections. The prospect of political violence has prompted reactions from the Colombian government and led to the reinforcement of security measures for opposition candidates, specifically Paloma Valencia, following death threats.

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These incidents occur within a broader context of escalating instability. In a congressional hearing hosted by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on July 25, 2025, U.S. Lawmakers warned that a surge in violence against social leaders and human rights defenders threatens to undo years of peace progress.

Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, Director for the Andes at the Washington Office on Latin America, testified that there had been a 45% increase in violent events compared to the same period the previous year. She reported that 88 social leaders had been killed since January, with Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities being disproportionately affected.

Bilateral Tensions and U.S. Policy

The diplomatic friction between the U.S. And Colombia has intensified during the second presidency of Donald Trump. Reports indicate that the U.S. Government has imposed sanctions on President Gustavo Petro. The Trump administration has made unprecedented threats of direct military strikes against Colombia and explicit threats against the democratically elected president.

U.S. Lawmakers have also criticized shifts in U.S. Policy, suggesting that these changes have weakened peacebuilding efforts. Representative Jim McGovern, Chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, stated that violence would persist until the underlying root problems are addressed and expressed concern that the peace process is moving in the wrong direction.

Long-term Conflict Drivers

The current instability is compounded by the incomplete implementation of the 2016 Peace Accords. While the accords sought to end the conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)—a conflict that resulted in approximately 450,000 deaths—the agreement only addressed one part of the broader violence.

Armed groups continue to intensify attacks in rural areas where state presence is minimal. The production of cocaine and the cultivation of coca leaf have reached record highs in recent years, serving as a growing driver of internal conflict.

Regional instability is further exacerbated by U.S. Intervention in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro and the application of sustained coercive pressure on the Venezuelan government. Colombia’s ability to prevent instability from spilling over from its neighbor is linked to its commitment to the 2016 Peace Accords.

Historically, the U.S.-Colombia partnership was defined by security cooperation, including Plan Colombia, which provided approximately $10 billion in assistance. Colombia was designated as a Major non-NATO ally in 2022, though the relationship has since deteriorated significantly due to the aforementioned political and diplomatic clashes.