Clínica de Especialidades Oftalmológicas (CEO), a Medellín-based ophthalmology provider, has become the first healthcare organization in the world to receive accreditation under Global Healthcare Accreditation’s (GHA) Standards for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations 1.0 and the first institution to complete GHA’s Integrated Accreditation Program for Medical Travel.

“CEO has shown that medical travel, when aligned with clinical quality and patient-centered care, can directly support better outcomes and a stronger healthcare experience for both local and international patients.” – Renée-Marie Stephano, Chief Executive Officer, Global Healthcare Accreditation

The recognition covers CEO’s facilities in Medellín, Envigado, and Rionegro, following an integrated evaluation process that assessed both healthcare quality standards and the organization’s ability to manage the complete journey of international patients.

GHA’s Integrated Accreditation Program combines clinical quality, patient safety, operational performance, and medical travel services into a single framework. The model is designed to help healthcare organizations align domestic and international patient care while creating consistent processes across areas such as coordination, communication, risk management, and follow-up.

“This international recognition confirms that it is possible to achieve world-class standards in patient safety, clinical quality, and patient experience in Colombia,” said José Francisco Bernal Márquez, General Manager of Clínica de Oftalmología CEO.

Bernal Márquez said the accreditation followed a year-and-a-half process that included training, gap assessments, and preparation work aimed at strengthening quality systems and improving services for both Colombian and international patients.

The accreditation evaluates healthcare organizations across areas including governance, infection prevention and control, medication management, workforce competency, risk management, continuity of care, and continuous improvement. The standards have also received validation from the International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (ISQua EEA).

The medical travel component examines the complete international patient experience, from initial inquiries and pre-arrival coordination to treatment, discharge planning, follow-up care, cultural considerations, financial transparency, and long-term sustainability.

“CEO’s achievement demonstrates how a serious medical travel program can strengthen an organization far beyond international patient growth alone,” said Stephano. “When patient experience, safety, quality, and operational systems are improved across every touchpoint, the benefits extend to all patients.”

According to Claudia Jorgenson, Director of Clinical Operations at Global Healthcare Accreditation, CEO stood out for its commitment to continuous improvement and its willingness to strengthen systems beyond accreditation requirements.

“The Integrated Accreditation process is rigorous because it looks at the organization from multiple perspectives, including clinical quality, patient safety, governance, risk management, care coordination, and the full patient experience,” Jorgenson said.

Founded 18 years ago, Clínica de Especialidades Oftalmológicas has grown into one of Colombia’s leading ophthalmology providers. The organization works with 57 ophthalmologists and performs approximately 1,000 surgical procedures each month.

CEO has completed more than 150,000 ophthalmic surgeries throughout its history. During the evaluation process, GHA highlighted the organization’s quality culture and patient-focused approach, while CEO reported eight years without institutional surgical infections, a 0.8% reoperation rate, zero complex adverse events, and a 0.3% minor adverse event rate.

The accreditation positions CEO as an example of how Colombian healthcare providers are increasingly integrating international standards into specialized medical services and medical tourism offerings.

More information about CEO is available at ceomedellin.com.

Migración Colombia denied entry to an American known on social media as Casey Red Beard at Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado in Bogotá on Saturday, May 23, returning him on an immediate flight to Miami after officials confirmed prior alerts linking him to the alleged promotion of sex tourism and private gatherings in Medellín. The traveler has been barred from entering Colombia for 10 years.

The decision drew on existing anotaciones registered by the agency’s Regional Antioquia-Chocó office, derived from public denouncements made in earlier years. According to Migración Colombia, the man had used social media to promote private gatherings in apartments in Medellín aimed at foreign visitors, marketed under the name Programa de Inmersión en Medellín. The agency described packages priced in US dollars that included private dinners, exclusive parties, excursions, and food and transport for women attending the events.

A message attributed by Migración Colombia to the organizers of the parties read: “Mis clientes son millonarios y me pagan muy bien para lanzar fiestas donde solo haya chicas educadas (…) ellos no quieren conocer las chicas que están en el Lleras a las 2 a.m.” (“My clients are millionaires and they pay me very well to throw parties where there are only educated girls (…) they don’t want to meet the girls who are at Lleras at 2 a.m.”)

“In several posts, he brags that his “white advantage” helps him attract Latin American women and urges men to get their passports.” – Jessica Van Meir in The Baffler #77, January 2025

Statements from Bogotá and Medellín

The Director General of Migración Colombia, Gloria Esperanza Arriero, said the agency “no solo tiene rigor en el control migratorio, sino también capacidad en las verificaciones y en la toma de decisiones para combatir la trata de personas y la explotación sexual de niños, niñas y adolescentes con todos los elementos posibles” (“not only enforces migration controls rigorously, but also has the verification and decision-making capacity to combat human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents with every available element”). Arriero added that the agency would continue strengthening control mechanisms to prevent the entry of persons it determines pose risks to communities.

The Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, addressed the case on his X account: “Otro más. Go Home‼️ Un estadounidense conocido en redes sociales como Casey Red Beard llegó a Bogotá en un vuelo desde Miami y fue devuelto a su país por Migración Colombia, luego de confirmarse que estaba en la lista Alertas Medellín, por promoción explícita de turismo con fines de explotación sexual, organizando fiestas en apartamentos de la ciudad.” (“Another one. Go Home‼️ An American known on social media as Casey Red Beard arrived in Bogotá on a flight from Miami and was returned to his country by Migración Colombia, after it was confirmed he was on the Alertas Medellín list for the explicit promotion of tourism for the purposes of sexual exploitation, organizing parties in apartments in the city.”)

“Let it be clear: there is no place here for foreigners who come to promote disorder and skirt the law.”— Federico Gutiérrez, Mayor of Medellín

The Alertas Medellín list cited by Gutiérrez is a municipal mechanism maintained by the Alcaldía de Medellín that flags foreign nationals associated with criminal activity, security risks, or conduct authorities consider incompatible with public coexistence. The list is shared with Migración Colombia for use at points of entry.

Identifying the Subject

Authorities publicly identified the man only by his social-media handle, Casey Red Beard, and the affiliated X account @RedBeardRants1. The individual operating under the handle is Casey Brown, an American previously identified by name in a January 2025 essay in The Baffler by journalist Jessica Van Meir, who described him as “a self-proclaimed red-pilled dating coach” who advertised “gringo parties” in Medellín “for American tourists to meet Colombian women.” Van Meir cited a 2023 report in the Colombian feminist outlet Manifiesta alleging that Red Beard and an accomplice had engaged in sex trafficking. A LinkedIn profile consistent with the same identification also presents him under the name Casey Brown. Migración Colombia has not commented on legal-name identification.

Self-Styled ‘Red-Pilled’ Dating Coach

The public profile cultivated by the subject sits squarely within the so-called “red pill” or “manosphere” online community — a network of self-styled male-dating influencers whose best-known international figure is the British-American social-media personality Andrew Tate, currently under indictment in Romania on charges including human trafficking and rape. On his YouTube channel, which operates under the handle @redbeardrants, and in his publicly indexed marketing materials, Red Beard describes his stated mission as one to “destroy loneliness in men” and promotes a method built around mass online-dating outreach, paid virtual assistants, and copy-paste messaging “funnels.” His published guidance to clients includes an explicit recommendation to “leave the west (USA, Canada, UK, etc.). Go to a more favorable dating market like Eastern Europe, South America, Asia, etc. where the women are more feminine, beautiful, cooperative, and easier to obtain.” His listed past collaborations include Myron Gaines and the Fresh and Fit Podcast, a manosphere-adjacent program in the same broader subculture.

Investigators reviewing his social-media output cited the same framing in their internal alerts. Beyond the “chicas educadas” message attributed to the organizers by Migración Colombia, the agency noted that Red Beard’s published content has historically marketed Medellín itself as the destination commodity, with the city’s Parque Lleras nightlife district and surrounding El Poblado sector positioned as the operational base for his promoted experiences.

Mayor’s Office Has Made Vice and Sex Tourism a Signature Enforcement Priority

Federico Gutiérrez has positioned the protection of women and children from sexual exploitation as a defining priority of his second, non-consecutive mayoral term, treating the suppression of vice tourism as both a public-safety obligation and a city-brand imperative. The May 23 Casey Red Beard inadmission fits a sustained two-year enforcement push that began in his first weeks back in office in early 2024. Within weeks of taking office, the administration imposed a curfew restricting unaccompanied minors from designated zones — including La 33, La Candelaria, and the Corredor de la 70 — to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children. In April 2024 the mayor used emergency powers to outlaw prostitution in the El Poblado sector, including the Parque Lleras zone, and authorities sealed a guesthouse called Gotham marketed through Airbnb on grounds related to alleged organized criminal activity, with extinción de dominio (asset forfeiture) proceedings sought against the property.

The enforcement push has been backed by explicit US support. In April 2024 the US Ambassador to Colombia, Francisco Palmieri, met with Gutiérrez in Bogotá and pledged the “total cooperation of the US government and its resources” to support Colombian law enforcement against sexual exploitation and human trafficking, including the extradition of US citizens to Colombia where applicable. A bilateral operational pattern was already visible in March 2024, when two US citizens were arrested for the sexual exploitation of minors in Colombia following coordinated raids. Subsequent arrests in August 2024 involved direct coordination with the US Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on a transnational case involving a Mexican operator and routes through El Poblado, Belén, Cancún, and Mérida.

Municipal prevention has run alongside enforcement and has been framed around the protection of minors and women in conditions of economic vulnerability. The Secretary of Security and Coexistence of Medellín, Manuel Villa Mejía, has overseen periodic mega-operativos involving more than 300 agents drawn from the Policía Nacional, the army, Migración Colombia, and municipal agencies, targeting establishments and accommodations linked to alleged exploitation. In October 2025 the Alcaldía launched training for owners and administrators of tourist accommodations in coordination with Fundación Renacer, a Colombian non-governmental organization specializing in the prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children. City-government figures from October 2024 reported a 160% increase in arrests for sexual violence against minors and 22,000 calls to the city’s 123 emergency line for child and adolescent protection requests during that year, even as overall foreign tourist arrivals rose 26% — a data pairing the Alcaldía has used to argue that brand recovery and enforcement are complementary rather than competing objectives.

The broader foreigner-safety beat in Medellín has continued to draw international attention. In March 2026, the death of an American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) flight attendant in Antioquia following her disappearance focused renewed attention on escopolamina-related crime targeting foreigners and locals in the city.

Otro más. Go Home‼️

Un estadounidense conocido en redes sociales como Casey Red Beard llegó a Bogotá en un vuelo desde Miami y fue devuelto a su país por Migración Colombia, luego de confirmarse que estaba en la lista Alertas Medellín, por promoción explícita de turismo con… https://t.co/EWBfr9qwdK

— Fico Gutiérrez (@FicoGutierrez) May 23, 2026

Enforcement Numbers for 2026

In what has elapsed of 2026, Migración Colombia has inadmitted approximately 90 foreign nationals nationwide for risks associated with sexual exploitation and conduct linked to trata de personas (human trafficking), a figure already approaching the 110 cases recorded for all of 2025. In Medellín alone, more than 60 inadmission procedures have been carried out so far this year, compared to 80 for all of 2025. The agency’s Regional Antioquia-Chocó office accounts for 63 of the 2026 cases.

Broader expulsion and deportation activity is running at a pace comparable to the previous year. Through May 23, the agency reported 310 expulsions or deportations of foreign citizens in 2026, comprising 157 deportations and 153 expulsions, compared to 1,652 cases recorded during all of 2025. Deportations were concentrated in the agency’s Nariño, Oriente, Atlántico, Eje Cafetero, Antioquia, and Andina regional offices, while expulsions were most frequent in Oriente, Andina, Antioquia, Nariño, and at the El Dorado station.

According to Arriero, expulsion and deportation decisions are taken in accordance with the Constitución Política de Colombia and applicable law, with due-process considerations, and respond to immigration violations, threats to public order or national security, judicial orders, and requirements from international organizations including the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). Migración Colombia retains discretionary authority under Decreto 2136 de 2021 to deny entry to or order the return of foreign citizens it determines pose risks to national security or public order.

Pattern of Recent Cases

The Casey Red Beard inadmission follows several high-profile expulsions earlier in 2026. In April, Migración Colombia expelled Steve Newland, a US citizen and social media operator known as “Chill Capo,” accused of promoting party experiences with alleged ties to sexual exploitation and of publishing content advising visitors on how to evade migration controls. The same month, the agency expelled Samuel McVey, a former teacher from New Rochelle, New York, following incidents at schools in the eastern Antioquia municipality of Rionegro and in the Las Palmas sector of Medellín. Migración Colombia also detected and again removed Russian citizen George Laevsky after he attempted to re-enter the country following an April expulsion linked to repeated disturbances at an apartment in the El Poblado sector.

Colombian authorities have framed the escalating enforcement as targeting precisely the use of social media and digital platforms to market tourism packages that allegedly conceal sexual exploitation, with women in conditions of economic vulnerability described as the principal victims. The agency has previously stated that prevention of Explotación Sexual Comercial de Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes (ESCNNA) is a particular priority, citing cooperation with international intelligence agencies and the Angel Watch program, which has resulted in more than 470 entry denials since 2016 for reasons associated with sexual offenses.

Migración Colombia, Colombia’s immigration agency, has executed the expulsion of two US citizens from Medellín following separate investigations into activities deemed a risk to public security and peaceful coexistence. The administrative measures targeted Steve Newland, a digital content creator known as “Chill Capo,” and Samuel McVey, a former teacher from New York. Both individuals were transported to the Aeropuerto Internacional José María Córdova in Rionegro and placed on a flight to Miami, Florida.

Definition of “Capo” according to Google.

The actions come amid a broader strategy by the Colombian government to address concerns regarding sex tourism and the presence of foreign nationals with outstanding legal issues in their home countries. According to Paola Salazar, the Regional Director of Migración Colombia, the agency has adopted a stricter posture to ensure that Colombia is not utilized as a refuge for individuals linked to fraudulent or illicit activities.

The Case of Steve “Chill Capo”Newland

Steve Newland, a 42-year-old US citizen born in Willingboro, New Jersey, had been residing in Medellín since 2022. Operating under the digital brand “Chill Capo,” Newland promoted luxury lifestyle experiences and nightlife events. However, an investigation by Migración Colombia determined that Newland used his digital platforms to promote encounters with alleged purposes of sexual exploitation.

“Lo están esperando y lo capturan, (they are waiting for them and they will capture them)” stated Federico Gutiérrez, the Mayor of Medellín, referring to the coordination with US authorities regarding the return of the individuals.

The agency reported that Newland’s content included advice on how to evade immigration controls at the airport, such as using false medical certificates or simulating injuries to bypass rigorous inspections. His publications also mentioned accommodations linked to historical criminal figures, specifically the penthouses de Pablo Escobar, and provided instructions on how to avoid being targeted with escopolamina during social outings. Following the investigation, authorities confirmed Newland was in an irregular migration status. He has been banned from reentering Colombia for a minimum of five years.

Newland has publicly denied the allegations via his social media channels. He asserted that his primary objective was to educate visitors on safety and help them avoid dangerous situations. Newland claimed that his events were legal, safe, and conducted in collaboration with established Colombian businesses in the Parque Lleras district. He further contended that his visa had been renewed multiple times since 2022, suggesting that any illegal activity would have prevented such renewals. Newland challenged authorities to present specific evidence or identify victims related to the claims of exploitation.

🔴 #Noticia | Influenciador estadounidense que promovía turismo con fines de explotación sexual en Medellín, fue deportado por Migración Colombia.
El extranjero no podrá ingresar al país en los próximos cinco años, luego de este tiempo tendrá que solicitar una visa. pic.twitter.com/9QhZKJ7C8X

— Migración Colombia (@MigracionCol) April 11, 2026

Samuel McVey: School Incidents and US Warrants

On LinkedIn, McVey claims to have a new private school in Llanogrande, Antioquia, that embraces “leaders of drug cartels and paramilitaries” among others.

In a separate incident, 46-year-old Samuel McVey, who was fired as a primary school teacher but styles himself as “Chief Executive Officer @ McVey International Group” on LinkedIn, was expelled following a series of disturbances at educational institutions in the Valle de Aburrá (Metro Medellín) and the city’s eastern Antioquia bedroom community of Rionegro. On April 8, 2026, McVey reportedly entered at least three schools in the wealthy Las Palmas sector of Medellín, where he allegedly initiated confrontations and made threats against staff and students. He subsequently traveled to Rionegro, where he attempted to gain entry to the Colegio Monteluna in Llanogrande by posing as an English language instructor.

When denied access, McVey reportedly directed threats toward students, prompting school officials to contact the Policía Nacional. He was apprehended by units from the Estación Llanogrande near a local strip mall. Manuel Villa Mejía, the Secretary of Security and Coexistence of Medellín, described McVey as a risk to the community and confirmed that the individual was in a state of high agitation upon his detention.

Investigation into McVey’s background revealed that he is a fugitive from New Rochelle, New York. In the United States, McVey faces charges of aggravated harassment in the second degree, a misdemeanor. The charges stem from an investigation by the New Rochelle Police Department involving threats made against Dr. Corey W. Reynolds, the Superintendent of the City School District of New Rochelle. McVey, a former Spanish teacher at Isaac E. Young Middle School, was terminated in early 2026. New Rochelle authorities had issued two bench warrants for his arrest after he failed to appear for court proceedings on March 26 and April 1, 2026.

Despite the outstanding warrants, the New Rochelle Police Department noted that they do not typically extradite individuals for misdemeanor offenses. Consequently, Colombian authorities processed his departure as an immediate expulsion based on his conduct within Colombia. McVey has been prohibited from entering Colombia for ten years.

Regional Enforcement Trends and Peak Travel Season Operations

The expulsions of Newland and McVey come after a larger enforcement effort during the 2026 Semana Santa (Easter Week) season. Migración Colombia reported that enhanced controls at airports and land borders resulted in the detection of numerous foreign nationals with irregular status or criminal backgrounds.

Specific cases identified by the agency during this period include:

• In Leticia, Amazonas, a Peruvian citizen was detained at a hotel; the individual was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for alleged crimes against public health.
• In Ibagué, a Venezuelan citizen wanted by Peruvian authorities under an Interpol Red Notice for aggravated theft was arrested in a joint operation with the Policía Nacional.
• In Facatativá, another Venezuelan national was apprehended for an Interpol Red Notice involving charges of human trafficking for sexual exploitation and membership in criminal organizations.
• In Bogotá, two Dominican citizens were expelled after attempting to fraudulently obtain Colombian passports to travel to Europe.
• At the Aeropuerto Internacional José María Córdova, a man and a woman from the Dominican Republic were intercepted while attempting to travel to Peru and Argentina using fraudulent Colombian documentation.
  

  Inadmitted (photo courtesy Migración Colombia)

Statistical Overview of Inadmissibility in 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, Migración Colombia has denied entry to over 600 foreign nationals. The primary reasons for inadmissibility include state sovereignty and security risks (153 cases), lack of required visas (133 cases), and insufficient documentation (104 cases). Additionally, 89 individuals were rejected for providing false information during immigration interviews, while 34 had documented criminal records.

The agency also noted a specific focus on preventing the Explotación Sexual Comercial de Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes (ESCNNA). Through cooperation with international intelligence agencies and the Angel Watch platform, 471 individuals have been denied entry since 2016 for reasons associated with sexual offenses. At the Rionegro terminal alone, 31 inadmissibility cases have been recorded so far in 2026 related to potential sex tourism risks.

The Director General of Migración Colombia, Gloria Esperanza Arriero, emphasized that while the country remains open to international travel and investment, visitors are required to comply with the Constitución Política de Colombia and national laws. Under Decreto 2136 de 2021, the immigration authority maintains the power to deny entry or order the immediate return of any foreign citizen who poses a risk to national security or public order.

The main nationalities of those denied entry in early 2026 include citizens from the United States (76), the Dominican Republic (64), Ecuador (55), and Venezuela (52).

Montage of deportees Samuel McVey and Steven “Chill Capo” Newland

Video footage courtesy Migración Colombia

Wingo, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings (NYSE: CPA), has announced the launch of two new direct international routes from Medellín to Guatemala City, Guatemala, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. With this expansion, the carrier becomes the only airline to operate these specific nonstop segments from José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, which serves the Antioquia region.

The new service increases Wingo’s international portfolio to 10 destinations from the city, complementing its existing network of five domestic routes. According to data provided by the airline, Medellín has become a primary operational base in Colombia. In 2025, approximately 35% of the carrier’s total passenger traffic, representing 1.2 million travelers, originated from or arrived in the city.

“Medellín is a strategic city for Wingo, and these two new routes reflect our confidence in the potential of the city and the response of travelers.” — Jorge Jiménez, Commercial and Planning Vice President of Wingo.

The Alcaldía de Medellín, through the Secretaría de Turismo y Entretenimiento and the Bureau de Medellín y Antioquia, coordinated with airport concessionaire Airplan to facilitate the new frequencies. The Medellín to Guatemala City route is scheduled to begin operations on June 25, 2026, with three weekly frequencies on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The airline expects to offer 30,000 seats annually on this route, with one-way fares starting at $108 USD, including taxes and fees.

The connection to Montego Bay is slated for a June 23, 2026, start date, also operating three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Introductory fares for the Jamaican destination are positioned at $159 USD per trayect. This move follows a 2025 pilot program where Jamaica was marketed as a high-interest destination for Colombian travelers.

Jorge Jiménez, Commercial and Planning Vice President at Wingo, stated that these routes reflect confidence in the potential of the city and the response of travelers to direct, low-cost international options. Ana María López Acosta, Secretary of Tourism and Entertainment, noted that the collaboration between the public and private sectors continues to project the city as an attractive destination for tourism and investment.

The expansion comes as the Aeropuerto Internacional José María Córdova continues to increase its capacity as a logistical platform for the country. Javier Benítez, Manager of the airport, indicated that the arrival of these routes reaffirms the facility’s potential to facilitate international business and connection for the region.

Between January and September 2025, Colombia registered 4,875,830 non-resident visitors, according to figures released by Migración Colombia and the Office of Economic Studies (OEE) of the Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo (MinCIT).

Air traffic data from the Aeronáutica Civil indicates that 37 million passengers traveled on regular flights between January and August 2025. This volume represents a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and an 18.6% increase relative to 2023.

Of the total passenger volume, 20.9 million passengers flew on domestic routes, while 16.2 million were on international routes. The 7.3% increase in international traffic over the 15.1 million recorded in 2024 reflects the expansion of the country’s air connectivity, says the ministry.

In August 2025, 4,998,176 passengers were mobilized on regular flights, including 2.8 million domestic and 2.18 million international passengers. This monthly total was a 0.1% increase from August 2024 and a 14.6% increase compared to August 2023.

Geographically, El Dorado Airport in Bogotá processed 69% of all international passengers. The primary international hubs following Bogotá were the José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro (Medellín) and the Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena.

International Visitor Composition and Source Markets

The 4.87 million non-resident visitors recorded from January to September 2025 included 3,467,026 foreign nationals, 1,191,475 Colombian residents living abroad, and 217,329 international cruise ship passengers.

While the total number of non-resident visitors showed a 4.2% reduction compared to 2024, the specific segment of foreign non-residents increased by 4.5% during the nine-month period. Foreign non-resident arrivals have accumulated a 14.8% growth relative to 2023 figures.

The US remained the largest source market, accounting for 22.7% of the total foreign visitors. Other principal source countries were Mexico (11.4%), Ecuador (7.6%), and Peru (5.2%).

In terms of arrival points, Bogotá received 38.5% of foreign non-resident visitors, followed by the departments of Antioquia (26.9%) and Bolívar (16.7%). These departments continue to concentrate the majority of international tourism activity in the nation.

The September figures indicate sustained international engagement with Colombia and the continued activity of the country’s air travel sector. The increased foreign visitor count and expanded air traffic volume correlate with regional economic activity.

Top-Tier Rankings

Four Colombian hospitals were among the top ten in the overall ranking:

• Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (Bogotá): Ranked third in Latin America, earning 78.75 points.
• Fundación Valle del Lili (Cali): Ranked fifth, with a score of 75.95 points.
• Fundación Cardioinfantil (Bogotá): Ranked seventh, with 74.84 points.
• Clínica Imbanaco (Cali): Ranked ninth, with 73.83 points.

Additional Colombian Hospitals in the Rankings

While a complete list of all 26 Colombian hospitals was not publicly available, several other institutions from the country were also featured in the ranking’s top 30:

• Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe (Medellín): Ranked 14th with a score of 67.08.
• Hospital de San Vicente Fundación (Medellín & Rionegro): Ranked 19th with 60.33 points.
• Clínica Reina Sofía – Colsanitas (Bogotá): Ranked 20th with a score of 56.81.
• Méderi Hospital Universitario (Bogotá): Ranked 21st with 56.71 points.
• Clínica Las Américas AUNA (Medellín): Ranked 24th with a score of 56.33. AUNA’s parent company is a publicly traded entity on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AUNA).
• Clínica Somer (Rionegro): Ranked 26th with 55.64 points.
• HOMI – Hospital Pediátrico de la Misericordia (Bogotá): Ranked 27th with 54.13 points.
• Fundación Hospital Infantil Los Ángeles (Pasto): Ranked 28th with 53.31 points.
• Clínica del Occidente (Bogotá): Ranked 29th in Latin America, placing 13th in Colombia and 6th in Bogotá.

Specialty Rankings

The ranking also assessed performance in specific medical specialties. While comprehensive data was not available, the leading Colombian institutions in each of the four specialties were identified:

• Cardiology: Fundación Cardioinfantil was ranked as the top Colombian hospital in this specialty and second in the region.
• Oncology: The Fundación Valle del Lili led in Colombia, ranking second overall.
• Gynecology and Obstetrics: Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá was placed third in this category. The Clínica del Occidente was also recognized for its performance in this area.
• Pediatrics: The Fundación Valle del Lili was ranked fourth in pediatrics.

Headline photo: Hospital San Vicente, sede Llanogrande (photo: Loren Moss)

What many people may be unaware of though, is that the countries have a 150 year bilateral diplomatic history together. The countries’ ties go far beyond merely commercial ventures. A 19th century Swede even was appointed governor by the fledgeling government after Colombia gained independence from Spain. Sweden has several cultural, peace-building, civil society, and humanitarian initiatives both in Colombia and throughout the Andean region.

Ambassador Helena Storm made time in her busy schedule to speak with Loren Moss, the executive editor of Finance Colombia, where they discussed the bilateral relationship, Storm’s impressions of the country over her time here, and the potential for deepening ties between the two countries.

Finance Colombia: I’m here with Helena Storm, Her Excellency, the Ambassador of Sweden in Colombia. First, I want to thank you very much for making time for us. I know that the life of an Ambassador or any diplomat is very busy. And so it’s an honor to speak to you here briefly. So first of all, thank you.

Helena Storm: Well, thank you very much for inviting me, Loren.

Finance Colombia: I want to talk about Colombia and Sweden having a 150-year-old bilateral relationship. It’s not often the noisiest relationship. You know, like a lot of countries in the news and things like that, for sometimes good reasons, sometimes bad reasons. But of course, Sweden has a strong global reputation for quiet diplomacy and things like that. But tell me, what are the ties that bind Sweden and Colombia? And are there notable examples of collaboration or cooperation going back over the years?

Helena Storm: Yes. Well, as you pointed out, Sweden and Colombia have very good bilateral relations. And last year, we celebrated 150 years of bilateral relations. I mean, that’s 150 years of formal bilateral relations, formal diplomatic relations. Before that, we had relations with Colombia. People-to-people relations and even contacts between the two governments go beyond. Already from the liberation of the country, Sweden was here, and we were present. We had a count, a Swedish count fighting with Simon Bolivar to liberate the country. He was then appointed the first governor of Mompox by Simón Bolívar.

At this time, we had several important Swedish families migrating to Colombia, one of them very well-known, and they’ve been active in many areas of Colombian society. It’s the Familia De Greiff. So we have this tradition of people-to-people relations. And since I would say maybe three, four decades now, we have been very engaged in this Colombian peace process.

In all the formal attempts that have been executed, negotiating between different groups and the Colombian government, Sweden has been present, supporting these talks in different ways. So, a durable peace in Colombia has been part of the main kind of activities that we’ve had over the last decades in Colombia.

Yes, so it’s a strong relation. And we also celebrated the 150th anniversary with the visit of President Gustavo Petro to Stockholm, where we signed a joint declaration of bilateral partnership between Sweden and Colombia. And I would say this partnership kind of sets a new scene for our relations.

Finance Colombia: Absolutely. If I’m not mistaken, there is even a street in Medellín named after De Greiff. I never made the connection until just now, so every day you learn something, as they say. And speaking of President Gustavo Petro’s visit to Stockholm, I want to congratulate you guys. I’m from the US, and Lockheed Martin was there. But that’s an impressive accomplishment. You guys beat out lots of different competitors, all of them worthy. Of course, all of us are partners with Sweden and with the EU. And we’re all allies.

 But first, congratulations to Sweden and Saab on winning the deal to replace Colombia’s fighters, which are from the early 70s, the tactical fighter fleet. And so, how long have you guys been working on that deal? And how big is that deal? People don’t realize outside of aviation that there’s the price of purchasing the hardware, the aircraft, but there are long-term service contracts that go on for decades after; it is a whole program. So maybe if you could elaborate on that, and obviously, that’s a commercial deal, but the way that these things work, it’s a hand-in-hand thing with the government, and everyone is working together. So I’m sure that occupied a lot of your time in the past few years.

Helena Storm: Well, thank you for that comment. And obviously, we are very happy and proud of the fact that Colombia chose the Swedish company Saab to replace their fighter fleet. And these kinds of decisions are long-term; they take a long time to make. So I think we have been discussing this with the Colombian government, and Saab has been offering a solution from their company since Santos’ time in government. I think that’s when they started to look at the replacement of this fleet. And this is normal. This is how long these kinds of acquisitions take. And, as you say, we have a great respect for our competitors, the other countries and companies that were also putting in offers. We are very proud that they chose Saab.

And as you pointed out, this is a long-term relationship for us. We are not looking for clients, we are looking for associates, allies, and friends. And with this kind of agreement, we have the opportunity to reinforce all three of these aspects with Colombia. And so right now we are in the process of identifying the details of this agreement.

Finance Colombia: That’s good to hear. And so also, I understand that part of the package… And Sweden has always been, as have your other Nordic neighbors, really involved in social efforts across the globe and have been leaders in that. And I understand that part of this package, you know… fighters are necessary in the real world. But there’s also, you know, we always have that perennial conflict of guns or butter, as they say. But I understand that part of this package includes a significant investment and efforts by Sweden in Colombia’s Atlantic region, which is a region that suffered a lot of neglect and a lack of investment, and things like that. And I don’t remember the details. Maybe you can fill us in. What’s that social part of the commitment that you guys have agreed to?

“Colombia is such a rich country in culture, history, and nature. I mean, it’s just amazing.” – Helena Storm

Helena Storm: Well, as you said, these kinds of acquisitions are accompanied by an offset program. And the offset program is an agreement to transfer technology and transfer knowledge, so we can multiply, actually, the investments in Colombia. And it’s up to the Colombian government and the Colombian society to identify in which areas, in which sectors, they would like the investments when it comes to technology, and the transfer of knowledge and technology.

And as I said, we are in the process of identifying this part of the offset program, it’s as you call it, direct and partly indirect. And the indirect part, that’s what you are referring to, I guess, when it comes to the social investments. And this is right now being identified and discussed between the Colombian Ministry of Defense and the company Saab.

Finance Colombia: Great. Besides aviation, besides, obviously, Saab, besides the Gripens, what are the primary bilateral trade links between Colombia and Sweden? Has there already been a significant amount of ongoing import and export between the two countries in terms of what Sweden buys from Colombia, and then what products does Sweden export to Colombia? Maybe if you can speak to the trade that has already existed.

Helena Storm: Yes, of course. Well, we have had trade between our nations for over a century. And today, the exports from Colombia to Sweden mainly consist of fruits, flowers, and coffee. And the exports from Sweden to Colombia mainly consist of different pharma products, technology in general, and vehicles and auto parts. And we are trying to increase now, together with the Colombian side, the export possibilities from Colombia to Sweden. We just had a delegation of 20 Colombian companies to look at export possibilities in Sweden.

I went with them and we visited various actors in Sweden in the first week of June. And this was an initiative by my colleague, the Colombian ambassador in Stockholm. We are working very much hand in hand to increase the Colombian exports to Sweden. The numbers are not showing the reality, because when it comes to the trade, much of the trade goes via another European before it comes to Sweden, or before it exits Sweden, which in the statistics does not show Swedish imports from Colombia, or Swedish exports to Colombia. So, the numbers, that’s why I don’t go into numbers, but there has been a significant interest from Swedish companies to increase their presence in Colombia. We have, give and take, 100 Swedish brands and companies in Colombia.

They generate more than 25,000 direct jobs. We’ve also had big investments since I came here. One investment was the company Essity acquiring El Grupo Familia. We have had the inauguration of three IKEA stores in Colombia.

Finance Colombia: Thank you. Thank you, by the way! Thank you. A big fan, of course.

Helena Storm: Yes, thank you very much. No, but it’s an important commitment. We also have the company Zelestra, which is owned by a Swedish investment fund that has invested $300 million USD in two solar parks. And they are now discussing another investment in La Guajira. They have investment plans for several hundred million dollars more until 2027. That’s in the renewable energy sector. We also have other Swedish companies here, a big multinational that every year invests in Colombia to strengthen their position here and strengthen innovation policies that they have here.

I was recently in Rionegro to inaugurate a redistribution center, the second biggest in the world, which the company Essity has just built and inaugurated in Rionegro. That’s also a big investment of at least 35 million dollars. We also invest in the waste-to-energy sector, where we are also taking part from the government side, where we, for example, have financed feasibility studies to increase the possibility of investing in this sector for Swedish companies.

Finance Colombia: That’s impressive. I know about your Rionegro facility. It’s just a few minutes away from where I live here in Rionegro. Yeah, you know, lovely area. I can tell you, it’s kind of funny. So many times before, when I would travel to Miami, just back to the US, whether it’s on business or whatever, and stopping at the big IKEA there near the airport, and carefully weighing my luggage and being sad because things were too heavy to bring back. I remember just writing the article several years ago when we first heard that IKEA was going to open its first store in Bogotá, and now in Envigado. And just aside from being a journalist, just personally excited. And so really very happy for you all.

 You know, I know that is a company of national pride, but then even for us as consumers, so happy about that. Renewable energy is a big area, as well as the strategic investments that you’ve made in companies like the paper companies, like Familia, which makes consumer packaged goods and things like that.

Beyond commerce, are there bilateral cultural or social initiatives to strengthen the people-to-people ties between the two countries? I know sometimes I’ll talk to people and, you know, it’s a little bit different in English compared to Spanish, but I found people get tripped up pronouncing in Spanish, of course, Sweden, with Switzerland, and things like that. It’s like, no, you know, it’s a quiet country because they don’t make bad news. You know, it’s one of those countries that are, and I know you guys are proud of this, quietly doing good things and have a great reputation.

 But tell me about some of the people-to-people ties that you have and the bilateral initiatives that you guys have on an ongoing basis with Colombia.

Helena Storm: Well, thank you. We have in our embassy here in Bogotá two strategies for development cooperation, one bilateral for Colombia and one regional for the whole Latin American region. We manage both of these strategies from the embassy in Colombia. By the way, the Swiss embassy in Colombia is the second biggest in the region after Washington. So it kind of shows how we prioritize Colombia in our bilateral relations. And these two development cooperation strategies have priorities. For the Colombia strategy, our priorities are climate change and environment, peace building, and the third priority is democracy, human rights, and gender equality. And these are kind of the three main focuses for our work when it comes to development cooperation.

And we have several initiatives that also foster these people-to-people relations, and are also working very much hand-in-hand with the private sector to kind of use the Swedish development cooperation as an engine for economic growth. We have several programs for that. I won’t go into detail here, but I could if you want to.

We also work with education, vocational training for youth, and women, within these programs. And regionally, one program that I want to highlight is our mining program, which promotes sustainable mining in the region. And the Colombian chapter of that program was inaugurated or launched a couple of months ago, in May.

So it’s a recent addition to our efforts when it comes to sustainable mining. And in all our programs, we try to always have a gender equality perspective, because Sweden is a country where we highlight the importance of gender equality in all sectors in everything that we do. So gender equality is one of these priorities that we’ve been working on for the last five years that I’ve been here, and also before. But we’ve had numerous activities with exhibitions in the parliament, the Colombian Congress. We will inaugurate one very soon with the mayor’s office in Bogota, where we also highlight the men’s role when it comes to gender equality.

Another area where we have strengthened our bilateral relations recently is the cultural area. Sweden has, since I came, been twice a partner country for FILBo 2021 and 2022. We were also the invited country for the EuroCine Festival 2024. We’ve financed several documentaries that show the civil society’s engagement in peacebuilding and the role in the conflict, in the Colombian conflict. We’ve done that with various of our partners. ICTJ, which is the International Center for Transitional Justice, has been one of the partners, and UN Women another.

We have also strengthened our cooperation through the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogotá, where we have a Swedish head director, musical director. And this orchestra went to Sweden during my five years here. I think it was 2023 or 2022. They traveled the whole orchestra to Sweden to showcase the quality of a Latin American Philharmonic Orchestra. And that was a very successful visit. So we are now planning a new visit to the Nordics for this orchestra in 2026. Unfortunately, after I’ve left, but yeah, maybe it will take place in the Autumn of 2025.

But anyway, these are very important areas of people-to-people relations that we’ve been working on. We’ve also brought Swedish artists here, singers, groups. One example that I want to highlight is Jon Henrik Fjällgren, who came and performed during COP16. And he is part of the Swedish native population, the Sami. But he was adopted from Colombia from an indigenous community in Colombia. So he has a double indigenous identity. He was born as an indigenous baby here in Colombia and then adopted by a Sami family in Sweden. And he has been reconnecting with his Colombian roots. And he is a very famous artist in Sweden, and he won our version of Sweden’s Got Talent. So it’s also been very emotional, I would say, the two visits that he made to Colombia during my five years. And to see how he had been fostering also a rapprochement between our indigenous groups, and how we can engage in further dialogue with them and foster further respect for their traditions and cultures.

Finance Colombia: You bring up an interesting point. A lot of times, I know growing up in the US, and I’m from the Midwest, where we do have a significant Nordic population. But it’s easy to forget how integral it is to society. I don’t even know why, but for some reason, we tend to remember the neighbors in Finland, that they have a significant indigenous population. But of course, Sweden does as well. I don’t know why we unfortunately tend to forget that. But that sounds like an amazing, not just collaboration, but just a story, just life history. And that brings me to ask, like you mentioned, your posting is mature here, and I’m sure that you’ll move on soon.

 But during your time as ambassador, what accomplishments and activities are you most proud of? Not when you look at your resume or when you talk to the foreign minister, but when you talk to friends and family, what are you most proud of about the things that you were able to touch during your time here in Colombia?

Helena Storm: Oh, that’s a very difficult question. But I’m very proud of the footprint that Sweden has left in Colombia. I’m very proud of the association many or the majority of the Colombians have when I travel in the territories, because as an ambassador, I’ve prioritized traveling in Colombia, and to visit the territories, not only working from Bogotá. Colombia is not Bogotá. Colombia is an extremely diverse country. And most of the people that I meet in the territories associate Sweden with support for peacebuilding, conflict resolution, human rights, and gender equality. And I think we have been able during these five years to increase that footprint in Colombia. And I think that’s what I’m most proud of.

And also, obviously, the 150 years of bilateral relations were a unique moment to show that we were the first country to support the first verification mission that came to Colombia to support the peace process in 2004, I think it was, with the establishment of MAPP/OEA, the Organization of American States Verification Mission in Colombia. Sweden was the first country to support financially and politically that they came to Colombia. We created MOE with the actual director of MOE now. MOE is the observation of the electoral organization in Colombia. I would say it’s an organization; it’s an NGO in that sense. It’s not a governmental organization, but it is the organization with the most respect from all parties when it comes to reliability in election monitoring.

We also have supported the territorialization or the expansion of La Defensoría, which is kind of the Ombudsman office in Colombia that was introduced in the 1991 Constitution. Ombudsman is a Swedish word. So the whole idea of the Ombudsman’s office is a Swedish invention, so to speak. And I think the Defensoría is maybe the Colombian institution, the government institution with the most presence in the territories all over Colombia. And as we know, much of the conflict that still occurs here in Colombia occurs due to the lack of official representation, the presence of official institutions around the territory. So that’s another example of how we’ve been working very long term to try to contribute to peacebuilding.

Finance Colombia: I understand. And you’ve been very generous with your time. I’m grateful. Last question for you. What will you miss most about your time? You may come back to visit, but I mean, your time here living in Colombia, what will you miss most about it? And maybe, not so much politically, but you know, really speaking as people, what can the people in the two countries maybe learn from each other?

Helena Storm: Well, that’s a super difficult question because there’s so much that I will miss. Colombia is such a rich country in culture, history, and nature. I mean, it’s just amazing. So obviously, all of that, the strength of the Colombian civil society, I think I’ve never experienced such resilience and strength from civil society. But actually, it’s funny that you say that, because this weekend, I was doing kind of my last errands in Bogotá, and I was panicking a bit, because I said, “Oh, my God, I have to fit now all the Colombian artesanía,” as you say it here, “that I can fit in my suitcase.” Since I came, I’ve been buying handcrafted things from all the territories, and I always wear Colombian artesanía.

Today, I’m wearing an earring from Choco, made by a women’s organization in Choco. And you know, this is one small example of how you can create conditions to sustain yourself economically and empower women economically around the world, just a small example. But I have a huge collection of these, and I was like, “How will I be able to maintain this collection when I travel back to Sweden?” So that’s one of the things I will miss to travel around the territories, talking to different people, women in these territories, trying to make a living, trying to change, trying to construct a future for themselves and their communities.

And I think that kind of resumes what I will… You know, something that I’ve noted during these five years it’s the talent of the Colombian people and the talent of the workforce. It’s also one of the explanations why we have such an interest from Swedish companies to come here and establish here, the talent of the Colombian people. And I think when it comes to learning things from each other, I think Swedes maybe should learn to be a little bit more relaxed, not to plan everything, and that things may turn out great, even though you don’t have 100% control over every step and every detail. And maybe Colombians can learn to have a little bit more structure and a planning horizon.

Finance Colombia: Ambassador, thank you so much for your time. It’s been an honor to speak with you. Best of luck on your future postings and the rest of your career. I’ll certainly endeavor to stay in touch. We appreciate it. And I want to make sure that your staff knows that we want to do a better job of covering Sweden’s activity here in Colombia.

 Sometimes, as journalists, we can be lazy and write about what the US is doing, or what Spain is doing, or what happened next door in Venezuela. But we want to be sure, because we know that there are so many countries like Sweden that, aside from trade and commerce, are doing good works and contributing not just to Colombia, but to the region. And we want to make sure to communicate those things that you all are doing. And again, thank you. I’m tremendously grateful.

Helena Storm: Thank you so much. Thank you.

Judge Heredia’s ruling orders the immediate house arrest of Uribe at his rural property in Rionegro, Antioquia. The judge cited five primary reasons for her decision to impose immediate detention, noting the need to prevent the former president from committing new crimes and to reinforce the principle that all citizens are equal before the law. Heredia stated that allowing Uribe to remain free would send the wrong signal and that his actions had eroded public trust in Colombian institutions, necessitating a “strong and exemplary response.” She also pointed to what she described as maneuvers to delay the trial and concluded there was a significant risk that Uribe, due to his international recognition, might flee the country to avoid serving his sentence.

Uribe’s defense team, led by attorneys Jaime Granados and Jaime Lombana, has announced its intention to appeal the decision. Judge Heredia has granted the defense seven days to file the appeal. The case will then be reviewed by a three-judge panel at the Superior Tribunal of Bogotá, which will issue a final ruling. The case must be resolved by October 15, as the statute of limitations will expire on that date. A failure to issue a final decision by this deadline would result in the dismissal of the charges.

The Bribery and Witness Tampering Charges

The case against Uribe dates back to a long-standing legal and political dispute with Senator Iván Cepeda Castro of the Democratic Pole (Polo Democrático) party. The conflict originated in 2012 when Cepeda, then a congressman, was conducting investigations into alleged ties between Uribe and paramilitary groups. As part of his work, Cepeda interviewed former paramilitaries who claimed Uribe and his brother, Santiago Uribe, had connections to these groups. In response, Uribe accused Cepeda of witness tampering, alleging that the senator had offered benefits to inmates in exchange for false testimony. Uribe formally filed a criminal complaint against Cepeda with the Colombian Supreme Court of Justice.

The supreme court investigated both Uribe’s claims and Cepeda’s evidence. In 2018, the court dismissed the case against Cepeda, concluding that his actions were protected under his mandate as a legislator and that there was no evidence of coercion or bribery. Instead, the court found evidence that Uribe and his associates had engaged in witness tampering and bribery. Consequently, the supreme court initiated a criminal investigation against Uribe for procedural fraud and witness bribery.

The Supreme Court’s case was later transferred to the Attorney General of Colombia, which proceeded with the prosecution. According to the court’s recent ruling, the prosecution, led by prosecutor Marlene Orjuela, successfully demonstrated “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Uribe had instructed lawyer Diego Cadena to bribe and pressure witnesses.

Judge Heredia determined that Uribe had “instrumentalized” Cadena, an attorney known for representing narcotics traffickers, to solicit false statements from incarcerated paramilitaries. The objective was for these individuals to falsely declare that Cepeda had offered them legal and financial benefits in exchange for implicating Uribe in paramilitary activities. The court found that Uribe was aware of the false nature of the testimonies collected by Cadena and still authorized their submission to the court, which constituted the crime of procedural fraud.

The judge also specified three instances where Cadena, at Uribe’s behest, offered benefits to potential witnesses:

1. Juan Guillermo Monsalve: Offered legal benefits.
2. Carlos Vélez: Offered cash payments.
3. Euridice Cortés (alias “Diana”): Offered cash payments.

The court did, however, acquit Uribe on a separate charge of simple bribery involving former prosecutor Hilda Niño, concluding that she had secured a prison transfer through legal channels rather than Uribe’s intervention. A charge related to ex-paramilitary Harlington Mosquera was also dismissed due to a lack of evidence.

Social Media Exchanges Escalate Following Uribe’s Conviction

The first-instance ruling against Álvaro Uribe has intensified long-standing political hostilities, with social media becoming a primary arena for public statements and counter-arguments. The day after the conviction, current Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a long-time political rival of Uribe, published a series of messages that were widely interpreted as references to the former president.

Petro’s posts alluded to Uribe without naming him directly:

“The landowner, legitimate heir of the Spanish feudal lord, ends up in years that are for rest and love, and grandchildren, imprisoned in his hacienda. The horse trots the hallways of the house, again and again, because the hidalgo cannot gallop out as he would like, perhaps, as the horse would like, to be free in the hills or the meadows of the plains.”

He added further:

“It is a time for rest; the warrior knows how to rest. It’s a time for freedom. No more hidalgos and landowners of fertile lands without producing food.”

Petro’s posts, which mentioned the 1975 novel The Autumn of the Patriarch by Gabriel García Márquez, prompted a response from the political party Uribe founded, the Centro Democrático (Democratic Center). The party’s official account replied to Petro:

“Calm down, President, no one asked you to write your autobiography in the form of an alcoholic soliloquy. How curious that you talk about haciendas, horses, slaves, and women who serve coffee, as if Colombia were the eternal stage of your class traumas and not a republic with real problems that you neither know nor want to solve. Are you talking about freedom? But you attack the press, justice, private property, investment, and even grandparents who retire in the countryside. Your idea of freedom is that of the confused commander, locked in his palace, hearing voices and believing himself to be the messiah. While children go hungry and the countryside remains unproductive (under your government, not the hidalgo’s), you drown in metaphors that not even your ministers understand.”

Senator Iván Cepeda also made a public statement on social media, criticizing what he claimed was an effort by Uribe’s allies to lobby the United States government.

“The infamous lobbying that the envoys of the first-instance convict, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, are doing in the USA seeks not only to weaken the judicial branch, but to generate sanctions for all Colombians if they fail to regain their impunity. It is, without a doubt, treason against the homeland.”

In response, Tomás Uribe, the former president’s son, wrote directly to Cepeda:

“Mr. Iván Cepeda Castro, I invite you to turn yourself in to the American authorities and seek an agreement in exchange for ratting out your FARC friends and revealing the cocaine routes and the political masterminds of drug trafficking. Dr. Cadena can help you with this.”

Cepeda later addressed this exchange in a media interview, challenging Tomás Uribe to take his allegations to the proper legal channels:

“If he has any complaint to make, let him file it, and if he wants, we’ll see each other in court, just as I did with his father.”

The Civil Aeronautics and Colombian Aerospace Force inform all air transport users that, due to the presentations and rehearsals before the International Aeronautics and Space Fair F-AIR Colombia 2025, operational closures will be carried out at the José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro on the following dates and times:

Dates and times of the scheduled closures:

Preliminary rehearsals:
Wednesday, July 2 and Saturday, July 5
From 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
From 2:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Rehearsal, Inauguration, and main aerial presentations:
Wednesday, July 9
From 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Thursday, July 10
From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Aerial shows

Friday, July 11
From 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
From 2:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
From 6:50 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.
Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13
From 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
From 2:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
From 6:50 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.

These closures have been coordinated with airlines and the regional aviation industry to adjust itineraries and ensure the safety of flights during these events.

All users with flights to and from Rionegro are advised to contact their airlines in case of any changes to their itineraries to avoid any travel inconveniences.

F-AIR Colombia 2017 airshow. (Credit: Loren Moss)

Viper Demo Team: supersonic speed

The F-16 fighters of the Viper Demo Team are arriving from the South Carolina National Guard, United States. These aircraft, icons of modern combat aviation, will demonstrate their impressive acceleration, reaction, and maneuverability in the air, leaving trails of adrenaline and awe with each pass.

High-impact skydiving: color and precision in the sky

From altitudes between 5,000 and 10,000 feet, the parachuting teams, The Wings of Blue from the United States Air Force and Águila de Gules from the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) will perform synchronized jumps accompanied by multicolored smoke, ribbons, and acrobatic figures, which will captivate the audience with their precision and bravery.

Texan T6 Squadron: pride, precision, and national power

The Texan Squadron of the FAC, a symbol of discipline and professionalism, will present a series of demanding acrobatics aboard the Texan T-6, aircraft used for the training of military pilots, powered by Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68 engines with 1,100 horsepower; these aircraft reach speeds exceeding 500 km/h and perform maneuvers such as the classic spiral descent, with turns of up to 90 degrees, and the stunning trail break, where the planes separate just above the audience in a display of absolute training and trust between pilots and the airspace.

Aerobatic Team Arpía 51: excitement with rotary wings, unique in the world

With AH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, the acrobatic team Arpía 51 is the only one of its kind in the world and will impress the audience with tactical maneuvers, close formation flights, and lateral movements, all with millimeter precision. This demonstration will not only highlight the expertise of the military pilots but also the versatility and power of one of the most important platforms in the Colombian military aviation for attack missions.

Kfir Darts Team: supreme power, eternal pride

This team, also known as Lion Cubs, will make the runway of José María Córdova Airport vibrate with the roar of their engines. The most experienced and accomplished military aviators of the Colombian Aerospace Force will execute extreme maneuvers such as tight loops, formation breaks, and high-angle turns at supersonic speeds in a demonstration of aerial superiority.

Special forces in action: mastery of the operational environment

The Air Special Operations Commandos will integrate the ground, air, and satellite capabilities of the FAC, demonstrating how real search and rescue missions are carried out under extreme conditions.
F-AIR Colombia 2025 promises to be an unforgettable spectacle for families and, of course, a unique opportunity for aviation enthusiasts and experts to closely experience the power and future of the aeronautical and space sector.
Each maneuver is designed to elevate the adrenaline of the attendees; it will be an experience that aims to push emotions to the limit.

Headline photo: A USAF B-52 Stratofortress bomber flies in formation with Colombian Kfir fighters, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Colombia’s Air Force by the creation of a military aviation school for the Colombian Army in 1919 (photo © Loren Moss).