Investment capital was primarily concentrated in the technology, creative industries, infrastructure, and commerce sectors. Major sources of this investment included the United States, Colombia, Brazil, and France. To promote further capital attraction, ACI Medellín hosted two investment rounds: one focused on traditional sectors such as agribusiness, energy, health, infrastructure, and technology; and a second round concentrated on the audiovisual sector, executed in partnership with the Film Commission of the Medellín City Hall. These efforts were supported by collaborations with the Mesa de Inversión de Antioquia and the Medellín Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia.

Several companies announced new investments or reinvestments in the city, including Renault Sofasa, TaskUs (NASDAQ: TASK), iQor, Accenture (NYSE: ACN), Poma, Rivana Business Park, Softserve, and DHL (XETRA: DPW).

Medellín went from $3 million USD in international cooperation in 2024 to a projected $8 million USD  with projects in the process of closure before the end of the year.

Cooperation Funding and Global Network Engagement

The city also reported a projected increase in international cooperation funds, with management expecting to close 2025 with nearly $8 million USD in projects, up from $3 million USD managed in 2024. This growth was partially driven by alliances with philanthropic organizations.

ACI Medellín collaborated with several key foundations to support social and environmental initiatives outlined in the city’s Development Plan. Noteworthy projects include a partnership with The Carter Center, which provided $50,000 USD and technical assistance to the Secretary of Women’s “Informando a las Mujeres, Transformando Vidas” project, aimed at strengthening gender-focused communication strategies for women caregivers. Other philanthropic entities involved in supporting various projects include Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Hilton Foundation, and Sparkassen Stiftung from Germany.

Medellín maintained its engagement in global city networks to advance sustainable development objectives. From 2024 to 2025, the city participated actively in platforms such as C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Mercociudades, CIDEU, and Metropolis. This participation led to the receipt of cooperation grants, training scholarships for municipal staff, and technical assistance for specific projects, such as Primavera Norte, which received support through the C40 and GIZ networks. As a member of the C40 Steering Committee, Mayor Federico Gutiérrez participated in global network activities, during which projects like the Corredores Verdes program, which the city credits with contributing to a 2 °C reduction in urban temperature, were presented.

Medellín Mayor Federico Gutierrez (photo courtesy of the mayor’s office)

Recognition and Diaspora Strategy

In recognition of its social policies, the city’s School Feeding Program (Comedores Escolares) received the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact award in the Social and Economic Equity category. Medellín was one of six cities selected from 173 applicants globally, and the award included a financial contribution of €20,000 EUR. The award recognized the program’s integrated strategy, which focuses on providing nutritional food for children, strengthening food security, and supporting purchases from local producers.

Additionally, the Sos Paisa Network was relaunched in 2025. The initiative focuses on connecting the Antioquian diaspora with opportunities in Medellín, specifically aligning their knowledge with local Science, Technology, and Innovation (CTI) projects. This renewal effort aims to leverage the global scientific and academic diaspora for local development.

According to Cristina Zambrano, Executive Director of ACI Medellín, the figures confirm a growing international engagement. The executive noted that from 2008 through 2025, the agency has managed $4.084 billion USD in foreign direct investment, generating an estimated 44,000 jobs in the Aburrá Valley, in addition to $134 million USD in international cooperation.

In a written statement, Trump said:

“In Colombia, coca cultivation and cocaine production have surged to all-time records under President Gustavo Petro, and his failed attempts to seek accommodations with narco-terrorist groups only exacerbated the crisis.  Under President Petro’s leadership, coca cultivation and cocaine production have reached record highs while Colombia’s government failed to meet even its own vastly reduced coca eradication goals, undermining years of mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries against narco-terrorists.  For this reason, I have designated Colombia as having failed demonstrably to meet its drug control obligations. Colombia’s security institutions and municipal authorities continue to show skill and courage in confronting terrorist and criminal groups, and the United States values the service and sacrifice of their dedicated public servants across all levels of government.  The failure of Colombia to meet its drug control obligations over the past year rests solely with its political leadership.  I will consider changing this designation if Colombia’s government takes more aggressive action to eradicate coca and reduce cocaine production and trafficking, as well as hold those producing, trafficking, and benefiting from the production of cocaine responsible, including through improved cooperation with the United States to bring the leaders of Colombian criminal organizations to justice.”

The US State Department on social media directly blamed Gustavo Petro for the failures, but also noted that the US government issued a 1-year waiver, meaning bilateral cooperation, and almost half a billion USD in security and antinarcotics aid to Colombia will not end immediately. One year from now, Colombia will have a new president, as Petro’s term comes to an end August 7^th, 2026.

The decertification puts half a billion dollars of US security aid to Colombia at risk. Mafia & insurgent groups have flourished during the government of Gustavo Petro.

“Under Petro’s misguided leadership, coca cultivation & cocaine production in Colombia has increased to historic levels…President Trump “has determined that the Colombian government failed to uphold its drug control obligations, but he has issued a waiver so critical US cooperation, including on counter-narcotics, can continue. Results matter – we must see progress and it must be soon!” the State Department tweeted.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro ran on a presidential campaign promising “total peace” and pledging programs that would replace coca production with other food crops, increasing Colombia’s agricultural exports. What has happened, however, is the reverse. Narco-insurgent groups such as FARC dissident mafias, communist rebels ELN, and the Clan del Golfo (Gulf Clan) mafia are all resurgent and taking over territory from government control. Over the weekend, narco-insurgents bombed an electrical tower in Medellin, and this just a few weeks after a massive truck bomb killed over 19 in Cali, Colombia’s third largest city. Under the Petro administration, cocaine production has surpassed levels seen during the days of the cartels and Pablo Escobar.

Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerilla group himself, has made statements defending cocaine, calling it “no worse than whisky,” and in April, his own former foreign minister Alvaro Leyva publicly accused him of being a drug addict.

“It was in Paris where I was able to confirm that you had a problem with drug addiction. But what could I do? Surely, I was not up to the task. I should have reached out, helped, intervened. I carry the regret of not having tried to lend a hand. The truth is, you never recovered. That is the reality,” said Leyva.

A defiant Gustavo Petro refused to accept any responsibility and said that the Trump administration’s decision demonstrates that US policy has failed.

Petro’s own Interior Minister, Armando Benedetti, is an admitted recovering drug addict.

Last night, a defiant Petro blamed the US and defended his administration’s efforts, saying that the move would end Colombia’s dependence on the United States, and cited the government’s recent cocaine seizures, without mentioning the skyrocketing production during his Council of Ministers meeting.

“You begin with a factual lie. Coca crop growth has occurred during (Iván) Duque’s administration, and with forced fumigation. It is U.S. policy that has failed. To reduce coca leaf cultivation, what is needed is not glyphosate dropped from airplanes, but a decrease in demand for cocaine, primarily from the U.S. and Europe,” said Petro in response to the US State Department statement.

Former Colombian President Ernesto Samper, whose administration also experienced decertification, and whose 1994 campaign was partially financed by the Cali Cartel drug lords, assured that decertification was “not the end of the world.” The former president added that “we must once again demand that consumer countries like the United States and many in Europe fulfill their commitment to reducing drug demand, precisely at a time when consumption of plant-based drugs has declined and the devastating effects of synthetic drugs like fentanyl and other narcotics we don’t produce are being felt.”

Samper stated that the decision to decertify Colombia in its fight against drugs “is illegal, political, and regressive.” He explained that it is “illegal because no country is authorized to impose unilateral sanctions on another country or its nationals. Only the United Nations can do so under established circumstances and in justified cases of necessity,” and it is political “because it has always been used to punish countries considered “enemies” of the United States. The worst right-wing dictatorships have benefited from the non-application of decertification, while our country, which has paid high human and institutional costs, is decertified every time the Colombian government appears as an “enemy” of the United States government.”

Paisa politicians blame Petro

Not all Colombian politicians are defending Petro. Medellín’s mayor Federico “Fico” Gutierrez, who returned from the US on his own diplomatic missive to meet with US officials  in direct defiance of Petro’s orders not to go, issued a statement damning the Colombian President:

“Colombia is being decertified by the United States in the fight against drugs. It was to be expected. Petro sided with the worst criminals. They are the only ones who have won under this disastrous government. During our visit to Washington last week, our position was to ask that Colombia not be decertified. And if it were to happen, we asked that support for our public forces in the fight against drug trafficking not be withheld, nor that the trade on which millions of jobs depend in Medellín and throughout Colombia be affected. Indeed, our agenda in Washington was successful in defending Colombia. Although Colombia is decertified, it leaves the door open for support for our public forces and expressly highlights the recognition that the United States gives to our public forces and mayors: *“Colombia’s security institutions and municipal authorities continue to demonstrate skill and courage in confronting terrorist and criminal groups, and the United States values ​​the service and sacrifice of its dedicated public servants at all levels of government.”* (see photo) In the midst of all this, we would have solutions as a country. But seeing Petro’s absurd statements, his intention is for Colombia to lose this opportunity and for us to be plunged into chaos. It is very evident that this is what he wants and has sought all along: to be left alone and remain in power. All the more reason we remain steadfast in the defense of Colombia and our people. We pull Colombia forward from the regions.” (below video)

Colombia es descertificada por Estados Unidos en la lucha contra las drogas. Era de esperarse. Petro se puso fue del lado de los peores criminales. Son los únicos que han ganado con este nefasto gobierno.
En nuestra visita a Washington de la semana pasada, nuestra posición fue… pic.twitter.com/2qEIBTpTGU

— Fico Gutiérrez (@FicoGutierrez) September 16, 2025

The Governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, also had a scathing rebuke for his own president. Antioquia is the Colombian department where Medellín is capital and is home to much of Colombia’s economic activity. Rendón tweeted:

“Regarding the decertification of Colombia, the Government of @petrogustavo – It’s a snapshot of the failure of “total peace,” of temporizing with criminals, of dealing with them in a friendly way while they destroy the country and Colombians. – Now, the Petro government should stop playing the victim coming up with resentful, outdated, anti-US rhetoric. The President is reaping his own harvest of incompetence and failure: he sided with the criminals. The world and the US are paying him back. – Antioquia is the first victim: flooded in a sea of ​​cocaine by a weak government that ties up soldiers and police to prevent action. The criminals win, and we Antioqueños lose. Drugs, drugs, and more drugs to poison our youth and to enrich and strengthen the criminals. – Aerial spraying was the most successful tool in the past: effective in eradication, it protected our soldiers and police. It must be reactivated. Tomorrow will be too late! It’s been proven: more cocaine seizures are not proof of greater effectiveness in the fight against drug trafficking; rather, they are the ultimate proof of a historic peak in production. We’ve gone back more than 20 years, but fortunately, this government has only months left. In Antioquia, despite intimidation and judicial persecution, we will continue working to defend the interests of my fellow citizens, adhering to the Constitution and appealing to the courage of soldiers and police. In our government, we understand peace as the rule of law, security, justice, and social opportunity. We will remain there, even if our lives and freedom are at risk.

Sobre la decertificación a Colombia, al Gobierno de @petrogustavo:

– Es una radiografía del fracaso de la paz total, de contemporizar con criminales, de tratarlos por las buenas mientras acaban con el país y los colombianos.

– Ahora que el Gobierno Petro no se haga la víctima… pic.twitter.com/OygRV29NER

— Andrés Julián (@AndresJRendonC) September 16, 2025

Business calls for cooler heads to prevail

Amcham Colombia, the binational Colombian-American chamber of commerce based in Bogotá and made up of both Colombian and US businesses involved in bilateral trade, issued a statement lamenting the decision, while also calling for the Colombian President to do more to save the relationship.

“AmCham Colombia firmly and respectfully calls on the National Government to urgently present and implement a roadmap with achievable and verifiable goals that demonstrate political will and substantial improvements in crop eradication, production and trafficking reduction, judicial cooperation, and the financial dismantling of criminal organizations. Only then can the country request reconsideration of the designation in the next cycle and maintain assistance within the national interest of the United States.

Respectfully, AmCham Colombia invites the United States Government to recognize the progress in interdiction and seizures and to consider announcing the resumption of spraying when appropriate and under the safeguards of the Constitutional Court, complemented by alternative development and a comprehensive state presence. These signals should contribute to avoiding measures that affect trade, tourism, and investment between the two countries.”

🇺🇲🇨🇴 #Descertificación con interés nacional@AmChamCol hace un llamado firme y respetuoso al Gobierno Nacional para presentar y ejecutar con urgencia una hoja de ruta con metas alcanzables y verificables que evidencie voluntad política y una mejora sustancial en: erradicación… pic.twitter.com/qDer8SKYFl

— Maria Claudia Lacouture (@mclacouture) September 16, 2025

Above image: Gustavo Petro during his council of ministers meeting where he defended his administration and blamed Trump for his country’s decertification. Photo credit: Ovidio González – Presidencyof The Republic

Medellin’s Mayor Federico “Fico” Gutierrez

According to the Mayor’s Office, Mayor Federico Gutiérrez has sent multiple formal communications since 2024 to the national immigration authority, Migración Colombia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), urging them to increase staffing and operational capacity at the airport. To date, the national government has not provided a formal response to these requests.

A new letter was sent on July 21, 2025, again highlighting the city’s concern as it prepares for Colombiamoda 2025 and the Feria de las Flores (Festival of the Flowers). These two events are expected to draw tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists, placing further strain on the airport’s already overwhelmed immigration infrastructure.

The situation is critical given the region’s growing tourism sector, which saw over 1.8 million visitors in 2024. The city administration has stated that the current number of immigration officials is insufficient to handle the volume of travelers.

An immigration official with Migración Colombia but unauthorized to speak to the media on behalf of the immigration agency told FInance Colombia that the Petro administration refuses to authorize additional hires, meaning that there are no more than nine, and often as few as four immigration officers to handle both departures and arrivals.

As part of its proposal, the Medellín government has offered to provide resources to support processes such as the Biomig biometric registration system and to deploy personnel to guide travelers, particularly for services like passport claim processing. These measures are intended to create a more efficient and secure entry process in collaboration with the local tourism sector and business guilds.

José María Córdova International Airport is operated by the private concessionaire Airplan S.A.S., which has not issued a statement on the matter.

Headline photo:International Arrivals at José María Córdova International Airport (MDE/SKRG) outside of Medellín. Photo © Loren Moss

Police sources tell Finance Colombia the man is named David Flint Stone, and is a resident of Hawaii. According to the official report, neighbors reported the suspicious entry of a young woman who, although she claimed to be of legal age, had the physical features and appearance of a minor.

The man’s mobile phone is being analyzed for nexus to pornography, sex trafficking, or criminal networks.

Upon responding, the officers found the 60-year-old foreigner in the company of the 15-year-old girl. Initial investigations indicate that the man had arranged a sexual encounter with her worth one million pesos.

“In Medellín, there is no room for abuse, nor for those who come to violate our minors. Thanks to the citizens, who were not indifferent, and the reaction of our police, we were able to avoid irreparable damage. We remain committed to protecting what is most valuable: our children,” stated the Secretary of Security and Coexistence, Manuel Villa Mejía.

During the procedure, the agreed-upon money and a cell phone were seized, which will be analyzed by authorities to determine whether the arrested person is linked to other acts of exploitation or a criminal network. The man and the seized items were handed over to the Attorney General’s Office.

“The message is clear: in the people’s Mayor’s Office, under the leadership of Mayor Federico Gutiérrez, we are acting firmly against sexual exploitation. These types of crimes will not go unpunished in Medellín. We will continue working tirelessly to identify, capture, and prosecute these criminals,” Villa Mejía added.

As part of the care protocol, the teenager was transferred to a health center to activate the health route and subsequently placed at the disposal of the rights restoration system, guaranteeing her comprehensive care and protection by the state.

David Flint Stone, was arrested in Laureles for sexual exploitation of a minor. Photo credit: Colombian National Police.

Photo and video courtesy of the Colombian National Police.

Artifacts found in Parque Arvi correspond to ancient Colombian indigenous communities and those from the colonial and republican eras. Photo credit: City of Medellín.

Medellín, Colombia’s Parque Arví, a prominent natural reserve and recreation space, has announced a significant financial turnaround, a surge in visitor numbers, and exciting new archaeological discoveries, according to the city mayor’s office. After experiencing a cumulative deficit of $2.463 billion Colombian pesos during the administration of previous mayor Daniel Quintero, now facing charges for corruption, the Corporación Parque Arví generated a surplus of $2.884 billion Colombian pesos in 2024. This financial recovery has enabled the park to address its budgetary shortfall and liabilities totaling $7 billion Colombian pesos.

The park attributes this positive shift to the reactivation of its tourism and socio-environmental initiatives during the second half of 2024. These efforts resulted in a $1.235 billion Colombian pesos increase in revenue compared to 2023, representing a 40% growth. This financial improvement has allowed the Parque Arví to continue its environmental management efforts within the Arví territory and the city. These initiatives include the intervention of 131 hectares of forests and green areas, encompassing the seven tutelary hills, the maintenance of 40,000 trees, the planting of an additional 2,000 trees, and the treatment of 62,000 kilograms of solid waste.

The current mayoral administration under Federico Gutierrez has been able to recover the fiscal deficit left by the previous mayor.

In the past year, Parque Arví welcomed 897,000 visitors, establishing itself as the most visited nature tourism destination in Medellín. This influx of visitors has reportedly generated $3 billion Colombian pesos in benefits for local businesses and facilitated the revival of events such as Mercado Arví, Arví Florece, the Gastronomic Festival, the Pre-Christmas Festival, and Christmas among Flowers.

Archaeologists discovered 17 structures, such as earth, stone, or mud walls. Photo credit: City of Medellín.

Óscar Andrés Cardona Cadavid, director of the Corporación Parque Arví, stated, “The Corporación Parque Arví is a city project that originated as a collaborative agreement between the public, private, and academic sectors. It is precisely through this synergy that we have achieved its recovery, generating a positive environmental and social impact for the communities of the Arví territory and serving the entire metropolitan area.”

Through its sustainability initiatives, the park has reached 15,132 individuals through environmental education programs, cultural and archaeological heritage dissemination, and the Sustainable Homes program, which has engaged 60 families in the territory.

New Archaeological Discoveries

In a recent development, experts have uncovered six new archaeological sites within El Parque Arví, covering a total area of 40,000 square meters. These sites are expected to become valuable resources for exploring and uncovering archaeological artifacts. For years, the area has yielded objects from indigenous cultures dating back over 2,000 years, as well as artifacts from the colonial and republican eras. The latest discoveries include 17 structures, such as earth, stone, or mud walls, providing insights into the lifestyles and spatial organization of communities that settled in the region after the arrival of the Spanish in 1541.

Stone tools and fragments of ceramic, pottery, and glass vessels, among others. Photo credit: City of Medellín.

Among the finds are fragments of ceramic vessels and other artifacts used for purposes like salt extraction, food preparation, and cooking by the ancient inhabitants. Researchers are currently analyzing samples of these pieces to determine their characteristics and mineral composition, as well as to identify the types of plants or elements used in the ancestors’ diets and to establish their age. Additionally, fragments of pottery, glass, and tiles have been recovered, offering further details about the artifacts used during that period. These findings are the result of collaborative contracts between EPM and Arví Park, as part of the area’s archaeological management plan. A notable outcome is the creation of an archaeological reference collection inventory, comprising over 16,000 pieces, along with a database documenting stone tools and fragments of ceramic, pottery, and glass vessels.

This work has helped to reveal the human impact on the landscape of Santa Elena, which remains concealed within the forest. The Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History designated this territory as a Protected Archaeological Area in 2019 and a Site of Cultural Interest of National Character in 1998.

Óscar Cardona Cadavid, director of Arví Park, encourages public engagement: “We invite the community, researchers, students, and those interested in history and archaeology to visit us, contact us on our social media, and arrange guided tours with our archaeologists. Learning about our culture, our history, and how the city’s first inhabitants lived is part of the essence of being here.”

The park’s public archaeology program has recently conducted 23 educational activities, including 20 archaeology workshops, aimed at informing the local community and visitors about the rich heritage preserved in Arví’s forests. These workshops cover topics such as archaeological methods, the history of the area, and significant findings. Additionally, three specialized seminars on archaeology and history will explore the geological and natural development of the Aburrá Valley and the Santa Elena plateau, as well as the transformation of the landscape by its early inhabitants. These educational initiatives have reached a total of 265 participants.

Fragments of ceramic vessels and other artifacts used for purposes such as salt extraction and food preparation and cooking by the ancient settlers were found. Photo credit: City of Medellín.

The Medellín Mayors Administration is inviting visitors to return to Arví Park to explore ancestral routes like the Camino de La Cuesta and La Laguna, among other sites that reveal historical traces.

Arví Park is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Guided and self-guided tours are available for those interested in learning about the archaeological finds and experiencing the park’s natural attractions.

Daniela Fleisman details Parque Arví’s diverse attractions and entertainment options

Daniela Fleisman, Deputy Director of Competitiveness and Tourism for Parque Arví talked to Finance Colombia’s Loren Moss during ANATO’s Vitrina Turistica tourism event, where she described the park as a 1,761-hectare (4,352 acres) natural reserve located in Santa Elena, near Medellín, accessible via a scenic cable car ride. “[Parque Arvi] is a natural reserve of 1,761 hectares. It’s located in Santa Elena. It’s near Medellin and we are connected by a cable car. So it’s very beautiful to arrive there. You can take the metro and you can arrive there in just half an hour from downtown Medellin.” She also notes that buses are available from Placita de Flores in downtown Medellín, with a journey time of approximately 40 minutes to one hour.

Fleisman highlights the diverse activities available at Parque Arví, including bike tours and hikes of varying lengths, catering to different fitness levels. “Okay, so daily, you can find bike tours where you can go around the park with an electric bike. So it’s for all kinds of members of the public. We also have different hikes and they are for different kinds of people. So we have hikes of 30 minutes, 40 minutes or 2 or 3 hours, whatever you want.” For those interested in local culture, trips to Silletera estates can be arranged, offering insights into the history and creation of silletas, which are flower arrangements.

Parque Arví and the surrounding area of Santa Elena offer a variety of dining options, from traditional to international cuisine, often accompanied by scenic views of the city. “Santa Elena is becoming like a trendy place. It’s a place where you could go and find different kinds of restaurants: typical restaurants, like more international, pizza, hamburgers, like all kinds of restaurants. And there are also some where you can find beautiful views from the city. So it’s like a whole-day plan.”

Fleisman also discussed the park’s participation in La Vitrina Turística, noting the strong interest from agencies and individuals in the park’s offerings. She emphasized the park’s diverse attractions, including culture, history, nature, and birdwatching. “[…] We are the second most visited place in Medellin right now. So we want to get to tell all the people everything that you can find there, like from culture, history, nature, birdwatching, everything.”

For more information about Parque Arví and its activities, Fleisman encourages people to follow the park on social media platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok) under the handle @parquearvi. “So if you want to get to know a little bit more and know all the plans that we have, please follow us in every social network, @parquearvi on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, everywhere.” She also mentioned that the park offers plans and activities throughout the year, including events for Semana Santa, the mid-year vacation, the Fiesta de Silleteros, and Christmas.

Daniela Fleisman, Deputy Director of Competitiveness and Tourism of Parque Arvi. Photo credit: Loren Moss.

The US and Colombia have long cooperated on repatriation of migrants, criminals, and other detainees, with trips deporting both Colombians from the US and US citizens from Colombia. These flights have taken place routinely in previous years of Petro’s presidency. However, after a 3am tweet by Petro saying he was welcoming the next two repatriation flights from the US with “flags and flowers,” Petro erased the tweet and tweeted that he would be “deauthorizing the flights from the US” after the planes were already in the air. The move prompted immediate retaliation by the Trump administration, who announced:

• Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%.
•  A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters.
• Visa Sanctions on all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government.
• Enhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds.
• IEEPA Treasury, Banking and Financial Sanctions to be fully imposed.

Petro that afternoon drafted a long and rather incoherent monologue addressed to Trump, complaining that he does not like to travel to the United States, that Trump is going to terminate the human species, that he will not bow to Trump, one day with a shot of whisky that he accepts despite his gastritis, he could discuss this with Trump, that he will not outstretch his hand to white slavers, that Trump is going to kill him but he will survive in his pueblo, that his people will rise up when Trump kills him, and a long list of grievances. Petro ends the note saying that he will match Trump’s 50% tariff imposition.

Complete capitulation

If Petro fancied himself a latter day “liberador” in the image of independence hero Simón Bolivar, he was leading his charge alone. Medellín’s Mayor, Federico Gutierrez immediately called a press conference denouncing Petro for political adventurism, and flatly stated that Petro doesn’t represent him. Other mayors including Bogotá’s Carlos Fernando Galán spoke out against Petro’s actions, saying “This is a grave diplomatic crisis that doesn’t benefit anyone. We call, thinking of the rights of all Colombians and the interests of Colombia, for the diplomatic relations of the country to be managed in a serious, rational and responsible manner.”

The same afternoon that Petro promised retaliatory tariffs against the US, his resistance collapsed and his administration agreed to all of Trumps demands, a resumption of the repatriation flights, gaining no concessions whatsoever for the drama and trouble.

Hours after Petro’s diatribe, the White House issued a statement saying:

“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay. Based on this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement. The visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned. Todays events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States.”

According to Gutiérrez, President Petro’s decisions have jeopardized Colombia’s longstanding partnership with the United States. “Last year, over 14,000 individuals were deported from the United States to Colombia, and the government remained silent,” Gutiérrez stated. He criticized an early morning social media message from Petro, announcing Petro’s refusal to allow planes from the United States carrying Colombian deportees detained for being in the US illegally, to land, prompting retaliatory measures from the US, including the suspension of visa services in Colombia.

The United States accounts for 30% of Colombia’s total exports, equivalent to approximately $15 billion annually, or 3% of the national GDP.

The strained relationship with the US, Colombia’s largest trading partner, has significant economic implications. Gutiérrez highlighted the US contribution to Colombia’s security, economic growth, and tourism over the past century. “Through trust and effort, Colombia became one of the United States’ main commercial allies in South America. Petro has jeopardized this relationship,” he said.

The United States accounts for 30% of Colombia’s total exports, equivalent to approximately $15 billion annually, or 3% of the national GDP. Key exports include agricultural products like coffee, avocados, and flowers, as well as gold. Antioquia alone depends on trade with the US for 33% of its exports, representing 5% of the region’s GDP.

The following Monday, Gutiérrez and Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón (above, left) met with business leaders from export-driven industries to discuss the situation. Medellín is the capital of Antioquia, one of the most economically important regions of the country. Gutiérrez emphasized the need for regional leaders to address the void left by the national government. “We are doing in the regions what Petro fails to do nationally: fostering employment, building relationships with academic institutions, and engaging with economic and civil sectors,” he said.

Severe impact on key economic sectors

Export-dependent sectors are particularly vulnerable. Coffee, Colombia’s iconic product, could face disruptions affecting 500,000 producer families. The floriculture industry, where women occupy 65% of the 140,000 direct jobs, faces potential setbacks, along with 600,000 indirect positions. Flowers constitute 78% of Colombia’s floriculture exports, with the US as the primary market.

Additionally, 281 containers of avocados destined for the US in connection with the Super Bowl hang in limbo. Rising material costs, inflation, and general uncertainty add further strain to exporters.

Appeal to the private sector

The Medellín mayor urged local trade associations to compile comprehensive reports on the economic repercussions of national government policies in Antioquia. He also called for unity among governors, mayors, and citizens opposing Petro’s approach. “We cannot allow Petro to isolate Colombia as his allies did with Cuba and Venezuela,” Gutiérrez concluded.

The current diplomatic tensions underscore the critical role of US-Colombia relations, with both economic stability and political alliances at stake. As regional leaders seek alternative solutions, the broader implications for Colombia’s economic and geopolitical future remain uncertain.

See Also: Trump Announces Immediate Sanctions Against Colombia for Petro’s Refusal To Accept Deportees

Above photo: Governor of Antioquia Andrés Julián Rendón (left) and Medellín Mayor Federico Gutierrez (photo:Alcaldía de Medellín)

González filed a formal complaint with the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia on the day of the incident, but she has expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the case. She feared that other women may also fall victim to Stream. Furthermore, she reported being targeted online, with her accounts hacked and her posts about the assault repeatedly taken down.

González alleges that Stream, under the influence of drugs, assaulted and raped her.

“Unfortunately I was a victim of a situation that any woman should ever face,” she mentioned in a video she published on her social media accounts where she detailed how the events occurred. It also highlighted her concerns about delays in the investigation and the lack of action against the alleged attacker, but the case gained public attention after the viralization of the video.

In October 2024 the Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutierrez, announced the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia was handling the case. “We want to highlight at this time that there is already an arrest warrant against the American citizen Jesse Allen Stream for violent sexual access. It is very important that justice is done. Full support for Gabriela, who made the decision to report her case not only to the authorities but through her social media accounts,” said Gutierrez in a press conference.

According to Gutierrez, it is believed that Jesse Allen Stream might have been in Panama during the end of September, last year. He added that international efforts were added, as regardless of where he is, whether in Colombia or in any country in the world, Interpol had also issued a blue notice against him.

“The Police is joining the efforts to advance in the investigative process. We reject this type of gender-based violence,” said Major Deisy Aponte, head of the Women, Family and Gender Strategy of the Metropolitan Police to the Medellín newspaper El Colombiano.

Headline photo: Jesse Allen Stream at the property in Copacana (Photo: itsmarbella3 / Instagram)

The first arrest involved an individual known as “El Mexicano,” who had been operating in Medellín for over four years. He was apprehended at the Milla de Oro shopping center, following a joint operation by the Medellín City Hall, the National Police of Colombia, and Mexico’s Federal Police. “El Mexicano,” who presented himself as a businessman in Parque Lleras, allegedly recruited women under false pretenses, subjecting them to human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Authorities revealed that this individual resided in the affluent El Poblado neighborhood and possessed armored vehicles and assets valued at over $8 billion COP. His criminal activities spanned multiple regions, including Medellín, Bogotá, and Valle del Cauca in Colombia, as well as Cancún and Mérida in Mexico. The operation to dismantle his network took over 90 days, during which investigators uncovered how victims were deceived with false promises, coerced into signing exploitative contracts in Mexico, and stripped of their identification documents.

“El Mexicano” is currently in the custody of Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office, pending extradition to Mexico, where he faces charges related to aggravated human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

In a separate incident, a Peruvian national residing in the United States was arrested at José María Córdova International Airport. The arrest was part of an ongoing initiative against the sexual exploitation of minors, coordinated by the Medellín City Hall, the Metropolitan Police of the Aburrá Valley, the Attorney General’s Office, and Migration Colombia, with support from the U.S. Embassy’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit.

This individual is accused of exploiting several minors in Medellín’s Belén neighborhood. He reportedly used digital platforms to rent accommodations where he conducted illicit activities. Investigators seized two mobile phones from the suspect, which are expected to provide crucial evidence of his communications with victims. The suspect allegedly targeted economically vulnerable girls aged 14 and 15 between 2022 and 2023, offering payments ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 COP for their exploitation.

The Peruvian national has been charged by the Attorney General’s Office with sexual exploitation and commercial exploitation of minors. To date, eight foreign nationals have been arrested in 2024 on similar charges.

Medellín’s Mayor Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga emphasized that the city will not serve as a refuge for criminals. He affirmed the city’s commitment to working with international partners like Interpol to ensure continued efforts against these crimes. “Medellín is not a haven for criminals. Anyone who comes here with the intent to break the law will be apprehended,” stated Gutiérrez.

The recent arrests highlight the city’s ongoing struggle against human trafficking and sexual exploitation, as authorities seek to safeguard vulnerable communities from such transnational crimes.

Click on the above image to play the video.

Participation in the 16th edition of the annual fair beat the previous high and included nearly 3,500 accredited members of the international business community from more than 40 countries, including most of Latin America, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, India, Afghanistan, and more.

Of the 450 total exhibitors, 106 were international, including 12 first-time foreign exhibitors and a large presence of industry companies from Asia.

In terms of economic impact, F2R 2024 generated more than $20 million USD for the city, according to the Secretariat of Economic Development of Medellín, and helped facilitate upward of $60 million USD in sales, both between exhibitors in large-volume transactions and in sales to the general public who attended. More than 1,400 motorcycles were sold during the show, according to organizers.

Next year’s event is May 15-18, 2025

For more information go to https://www.feria2ruedas.com/en/visit…

See also: 

Interview: Guillermo Pajón Explains How Medellín’s F2R Became One of the Most Important Motorcycle Industry Events in the World