A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia at 7:34 a.m. local time on August 10, with an epicenter about 3 miles (5 kilometers) east of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, roughly 150 miles (241 kilometers) from Bogotá, according to the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s Servicio Geológico Colombiano (Colombian Geological Survey). The quake originated at a depth of more than 100 kilometers, classifying it as a deep intraslab event tied to the Nazca Plate’s subduction beneath the South American Plate. Tremors were felt as far away as Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru.

As of August 12, Colombian authorities had confirmed more than 188 deaths, over 1,600 injuries, 222 people missing, and 260 people still trapped in debris, according to the Unidad Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (National Disaster Risk Management Unit, UNGRD) and figures reported by El Tiempo; earlier tallies from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) put damaged homes at close to 5,000, with 61 buildings collapsed and more than 550 schools and 24 health facilities affected across roughly 16 departments. Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío sustained the heaviest damage. President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a national disaster, invoked an economic emergency, and decreed three days of national mourning.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry, the Cancillería, installed an international cooperation command post led by Foreign Minister Omar Bula to field and coordinate offers of assistance from foreign governments and multilateral organizations. Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said more than 12 countries had formally pledged humanitarian aid or rescue personnel, and that multilateral institutions alone had presented cooperation proposals totaling $1.3 billion USD in assistance of various kinds. “We have already received proposals worth $1.3 billion USD in cooperation of various kinds from multilateral organizations in the midst of this tragedy,” Restrepo said.

“We have already received proposals worth $1.3 billion USD in cooperation of various kinds from multilateral organizations in the midst of this tragedy.” — José Manuel Restrepo, Vice President of Colombia

United States

The US Department of State said it mobilized an initial $15.5 million USD in emergency shelter, food, and protection assistance, along with post-earthquake structural assessments, according to an August 11 media note from the department’s Office of the Spokesperson. The funding is being channeled through five partner organizations: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Miyamoto International, the UN World Food Programme, and World Vision. Of the total, $3 million USD routed through CRS draws on funding already committed under a separate, previously announced global assistance award to that organization, meaning it does not represent new incremental spending beyond what State had already budgeted for CRS programming.

The department also activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), a standing mechanism of humanitarian specialists drawn from across the State Department, with members arriving in Colombia the day of the earthquake to coordinate needs assessments and the broader US government response alongside embassy personnel in Bogotá.

Separately from the new $15.5 million USD package, the State Department noted that as part of its existing $3.8 billion USD contribution to OCHA, the United States had previously provided $200 million USD to the Colombia Pooled Fund, a standing mechanism OCHA can draw on for earthquake-related needs as well as humanitarian programming in Colombia that predates the earthquake. That $200 million USD figure reflects prior funding availability rather than a new pledge tied specifically to the August 10 disaster.

On consular matters, the US Embassy in Bogotá remained open and continued providing emergency and routine passport, notarial, and consular services; its consular agency in Barranquilla also remained open. The embassy advised American citizens in Colombia to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov and to follow [@USEmbassyBogota](profile/USEmbassyBogota) and [@TravelGov](profile/TravelGov) on social media for security updates. US citizens seeking assistance can reach the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 888-407-4747 from within the United States, or +1-202-501-4444 from other locations.

Multilateral development banks

The World Bank disposed $200,000 USD in a non-reimbursable grant, without an associated credit line, to fund post-earthquake damage assessments. Susana Cordeiro Guerra, the World Bank’s vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean, offered technical expertise drawn from the institution’s experience responding to disasters elsewhere, in addition to the grant.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved $500,000 USD in non-reimbursable technical cooperation funding, of which $350,000 USD was made immediately available to the Colombian Red Cross and $150,000 USD earmarked for technical support, Restrepo said. Separately, IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn said the institution has up to $300 million USD in contingent emergency financing available to Colombia should the government request it; wire reports including CNBC and CBC cited a related figure of $50 million USD as immediately available for reconstruction support, reflecting different tranches or reporting of the same contingent facility.

CAF, the Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), pledged $500,000 USD in humanitarian donations to be channeled through its Social and Human Development Funds, CAF executive president Sergio Díaz-Granados said.

European Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced €2.1 million EUR in humanitarian funding for health, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, food, protection, and cash assistance in the hardest-hit areas, according to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO). The European Union activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, which pools resources among the bloc’s 27 member states, and deployed its Copernicus satellite mapping service to support damage assessment. A further €100,000 EUR was reallocated from an existing EU-funded project implemented by the German Red Cross to meet immediate needs of roughly 2,500 families in Chocó and Valle del Cauca.

Switzerland

The Swiss government approved 1 million CHF (about $1.23 million USD) in aid, with half directed to the UN World Food Programme and local nongovernmental organizations for emergency assistance and the remainder allocated to restoring living conditions in destroyed areas, according to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered solidarity with Colombia the day of the earthquake.

Spain

Spain’s Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development, AECID) mobilized an initial €1 million EUR package covering shelter materials, water and sanitation kits, medication, and support for deployed health personnel, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported no confirmed Spanish fatalities as of August 12, though it had not yet located 75 Spanish nationals believed to have been in the affected region.

El Salvador

El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, dispatched two aircraft carrying 100 tons of humanitarian aid along with medical and rescue teams, according to the Presidencia de la República de El Salvador (Presidency of the Republic of El Salvador).

Ecuador

Ecuador’s Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility) sent 47 rescuers with canine units and equipment provisioned for seven days of operations.

Mexico

Mexico deployed 255 specialized military search-and-rescue personnel, including canine handlers and medical staff, along with 4 tons of medications, 8.4 tons of food, satellite phones, radios, generators, and tents, according to Mexico’s Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Peru

Peru sent a plane carrying 12.5 tons of supplies and 62 rescuers through its Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Chile

Chilean President José Antonio Kast offered his government’s civil and technical resources through Chile’s Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), without publicly specifying the scope.

Venezuela

Venezuela’s government, through Vice President and Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez and the Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs), said it would send rescue brigades, an announcement that drew domestic criticism within Colombia given the state of bilateral relations.

Brazil

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged solidarity and said logistical and technical teams were on standby through Brazil’s Ministério das Relações Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Argentina

Argentina’s Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship) offered material assistance, civil protection assets, and logistics support.

Additional Latin American and Caribbean support

Several other countries in the region conveyed solidarity or more limited offers of support:

• Panama — President José Raúl Mulino offered collaboration “within our capacity” through the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Panamá (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama).
• Costa Rica — The government conveyed solidarity through its Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship).
• Dominican Republic — President Luis Abinader said his country stood ready to provide assistance, coordinated through the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de República Dominicana (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic).
• Guatemala — The disaster-response agency, the Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, Conred), remained in contact with Colombian counterparts to determine whether a formal request for assistance would follow, President Bernardo Arévalo de León’s government said.
• Cuba — Expressed willingness to help without publicly detailing specific commitments.
• Bolivia — Expressed willingness to help without publicly detailing specific commitments.

Other countries

Vice President Restrepo named Japan, Sweden, and Turkey among the more than 12 governments that formally offered humanitarian aid or rescue support, though itemized figures for their pledges were not publicly available as of this writing. Israel, France, Germany, Italy, and Ukraine also expressed readiness to coordinate assistance, according to Colombian media reporting, without confirmed dollar figures attached to those offers.

Red Cross and Red Crescent movement

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal for 11.7 million CHF to support the Colombian Red Cross, which activated its National Crisis Room and deployed a 30-member urban search-and-rescue team from its Antioquia branch to Chocó, alongside volunteers from its Quindío and Caldas branches. The Colombian Red Cross also activated its Restoring Family Links service to help reunite people separated from missing relatives.

Private sector

Among corporate contributions, Spanish bank BBVA (BME: BBVA) (NYSE: BBVA) said it would provide 3,500 food and hygiene kits, including nonperishable staples and personal care items, distributed through Colombia’s regional food bank network.

How to contribute

Colombian donors and members of the international community seeking a vetted local channel for contributions can direct support through somosone.com.co, the Colombian strategic-philanthropy platform operated by ONE Inversión Social. The organization has partnered with Sankofa Danzafro, La Pascasia, and Presentes Corporación on a Chocó-focused relief campaign, with a donation page linked from the platform’s homepage.

The Gran Salón Inmobiliario, one of Colombia’s largest real estate events, will return to Bogotá’s Corferias from August 20 to 23, 2026, marking its 20th edition with an expected participation of more than 25,000 visitors and nearly 170 exhibitors.

Organized by Corferias and the Lonja de Bogotá, the fair has operated as a sector partnership since 2005, bringing together developers, financial institutions, housing organizations, and specialized service providers.

The 2026 edition will showcase more than 1,600 real estate projects across approximately 4,900 square meters of exhibition space. The offering will include VIS (vivienda de interés social, or social-interest housing) and non-VIS developments, alongside tourism projects, commercial properties, business developments, and investment opportunities.

International showcase highlights tourism and investment projects

This year’s fair will feature an international showcase, where organizers expect more than 30 exhibitors to present projects focused mainly on tourism investment and short-term rental models.

The event announcement states that participating markets include Panama, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Guatemala, and Spain, with Panama serving as the edition’s guest country. The international section will feature residential, commercial, tourism, and business developments from Colombia and overseas markets.

Academic program and visitor support services

The event will also include an academic agenda focused on topics such as real estate financing, housing subsidies, market trends, sustainability, technology, and emerging investment opportunities.

The organizers also announced experiential areas designed to connect visitors with participating brands and provide additional tools for those evaluating property purchases or investment decisions.

Throughout the four-day event, attendees will have access to financing guidance, information on subsidy programs, expert discussions, and real estate options aimed at different buyer profiles and investment objectives.

According to the organizers, the Gran Salón Inmobiliario continues to focus on connecting real estate supply and demand in a specialized environment, while providing visitors with access to guidance and support throughout the event.

Above photo: View from building of Corferias in Bogota Colombia (Photo: {Rainercol@} / Wikimedia Commons)

Leyva alleges that Petro and Quesada disseminated information based on manipulated recordings that falsely linked him to a plot to oust the head of state. The complaint states that a forensic analysis found the audio “is not original or presented in its entirety” and “was capriciously edited to be disseminated with a completely contrived meaning—an entrapment of the victims”. Leyva claims the recordings were handed to Quesada, who then used the Spanish newspaper to “fabricate a coup d’état”.

On September 23, 2025, President Gustavo Petro stated on his X account that a complaint would be filed against him from the U.S.. He referred to Leyva as “the Hidalgo” and accused him and his “golpista allies” of trying to overthrow him. Petro also responded to previous allegations from Leyva regarding his health and absences from international commitments, denying that he was intoxicated. He mentioned that his medical condition prevents him from consuming strong liquor. Leyva had previously submitted a 33-page document to the Colombian House of Representatives’ Investigation and Accusation Commission, detailing what he considered erratic behavior by the president in international settings and requesting that Petro undergo medical and toxicological exams.

The complaint says that Colombian president falsely accused his former foreign minister of plotting a coup with US politicians against him.

The complaint details a news article published by El País on June 29, 2025, titled “Former Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva sought Trump’s complicity in the United States to topple Petro”. The article, which cited recordings and sources close to the White House, alleged Leyva was “seeking support to bring down the president of Colombia and place Francia Márquez in his place”. Leyva’s complaint asserts that this publication and subsequent accusations were based on false information. He claims the recordings were in the possession of the Colombian secret service and that President Petro listened to them, becoming “very annoyed” before publicly accusing Leyva of attempting a coup. Leyva’s complaint includes an expert report that concluded the audio was edited, with added noises, and that the original file was not presented intact.

The former minister contests the article’s claims about his whereabouts and actions in the U.S.. He states he was in the U.S. for eight days, from January 3 to January 11, 2025. He refutes the article’s suggestion of meetings with Republican advisers in April of that year, pointing out that Donald Trump was sworn in as head of state on January 20, 2025, and therefore the White House staff was not yet in place when Leyva was in the U.S.. He also denies that he or his son, Jorge Leyva, met with or even intended to meet with U.S. Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart or Carlos A. Giménez. Leyva asserts that the newspaper never contacted him for comment.

The complaint details Quesada’s interviews with Colombian media outlets, including Caracol Televisión and Caracol Radio. In these interviews, Quesada admitted the audios were edited “for the understanding of the spectator, of the readers” and that some parts were “confusing”. He also stated that the audios were in the possession of the Colombian secret service, which showed them to the President.

In addition, Leyva’s complaint highlights the relationship between Quesada and Lorena Arboleda Zárate, who served as press chief for the Petro presidential campaign. The complaint states that Quesada and Arboleda had a child born on April 11, 2025. Arboleda was named Counselor of Foreign Relations in New York via a decree signed by President Petro on January 20, 2025.

The complaint suggests that Quesada and Petro “would have conspired to filter the fraudulent recordings and manipulate information” through the article published in

El País to portray Leyva, his son Jorge, his sister Dorothy, Republican congressmen, and President Trump as “co-conspirators in a coup d’état”.

Leyva Cites US Law in Seeking Indictment

In his request to US authorities, Leyva suggests several criminal statutes that may be applicable, including:

18 U.S.C. § 371

— Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

18 U.S.C. § 1001

— False Statements

18 U.S.C. § 241

— Conspiracy Against Rights

18 U.S.C. § 2

— Aiding and Abetting

He also references US Supreme Court cases, including

Branzburg v. Hayes (1972), which established that the First Amendment does not exempt a reporter from responding to a grand jury subpoena and answering questions relevant to a criminal investigation. He also cites

United States v. Sterling (4th Cir. 2013), which reinforced that a journalist can be compelled to testify about a source when the information is related to a crime.

The complaint concludes with Leyva offering to cooperate fully with the US Department of Justice as a complainant and to provide any additional evidence.

The translated criminal complaint follows:

Bogotá D.C., Republic of Colombia

September 25, 2025

Madam

Attorney General of the United States of America

PAMELA BONDI

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Subject: I denounce for the opening of an indictment those who I indicate in section I of this brief, so that you, Mrs. Attorney General, initiate the necessary investigations to proceed to apply federal regulations and jurisprudence in order to guarantee complete justice.

1. 1. COMPLAINANT DETAILS

Full name: Álvaro Leyva Durán

Status: Lawyer with professional card No. 29504-D1, issued by the competent national authority. Former representative to the Chamber, former senator, former minister of state, former constituent.

Documents: Colombian Citizenship Card No. 17.064.0362

Colombian Diplomatic Passport No. DP069531

Contact: reencuentro3000@hotmail.com

1. 1. DATA OF THE ACCUSED

Name: Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, President of the Republic of Colombia

Document: Colombian Citizenship Card No. 208.079 of Cogua,

Cundinamerca, Colombia

Contact: contacto@presidencia.gov.co

Residence: Presidential Palace, Casa de Nariño

Carrera 8 # 7-26, La Candelaria, Bogotá D.C., Colombia

Contact: Phone +57 601 562 9300 (Presidency)

Name: Juan Diego Quesada

Position: Correspondent for the Andean area (Republic of Colombia, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Republic of Peru, Republic of Ecuador), of the newspaper El País, Madrid headquarters, capital of the Kingdom of Spain

Contact: Diario el País, Madrid, Kingdom of Spain, +34 914 400 135

Contact: +57 315 4556348 / +34 914 400 135 / +34 910 538 059

Address, El País newspaper, Madrid, capital of the Kingdom of Spain: Calle Miguel

Yusten Nº 40, 28037, Madrid, Spain

Contact: LinkedIn

III. FACTS THAT ARE DENOUNCED

The Spanish journalist Juan Diego Quesada, correspondent of the newspaper El País de Madrid, frequented his presence in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from the moments in preparation for the last presidential elections that took place in that country. His repeated visits to Venezuela and the reason for them are mentioned in an interview that journalist Carol Ann Figueroa made to him on her program La Pill (Podcast/Spotify and YouTube), on July 4.

This explains why his frequent contact with Mr. Armando Benedetti has been going on for some time.

The former Colombian ambassador to Venezuela, Mr. Armando Benedetti, today Minister of the Interior of the Petro government, who by the way, Mrs. Attorney General, in an interview with journalist Patricia Lara Salive of the Colombian magazine Cambio, published on April 27 of this year, states that “(…) I don’t want to be addicted but I am,” he was accompanied during his diplomatic tenure by the official Mrs. Sandra Lorena Arboleda Zárate, a protégé of Mr. Benedetti and of the President of the Republic himself. Is

it is clear then that the relationship between the four of them (Benedetti, Gustavo Petro, Sandra Lorena Arboleda and Juan Diego Quesada), goes back a long way. For more charity, Arboleda Zárate was Press Chief of the Petro Presidente campaign. See footer.

The fact is that the aforementioned Spanish journalist, as already noted, correspondent of the newspaper El País with headquarters in Madrid, capital of the Kingdom of Spain, impregnates Mrs. Arboleda Zárate, thus making the journalist a figure particularly inclined to the current Minister of the Interior of Colombia Armando Benedetti and the Head of State.  Dr. Gustavo Petro.

The intricate relationship that arose makes Juan Diego Quesada a very useful instrument. For this reason, you were given some recordings that were made fraudulently to me, Madam Attorney General, on the basis of which the aforementioned journalist proceeds to resort to a malicious invention by instrumentalizing for the disastrous purposes the aforementioned Spanish newspaper, of which I repeat, you are a correspondent. He ended up criminally forging an entrapment.

Thus, on June 29, 2025, the newspaper “El País” of Madrid headlined:

Former Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva searched in the United States

Trump’s complicity to overthrow Petro

Under the title:

“The former foreign minister, according to audios and testimonies close to the White House to which EL PAÍS has had access, was gathering support to bring down the president of Colombia and place Francia Márquez in his place.”

In the development of the news the newspaper indicates: “The recordings to which EL PAÍS has had access have been in the hands of the Colombian secret service.” And he adds: “The president listened to them in his office and was very upset. Later, during a speech, he accused Leyva of trying to perpetrate a coup d’état against him, although he did not offer further details. The former foreign minister, worried about the president’s revelation, went to Madrid for security reasons.”

Allow me to tell you at this time, Madam Attorney General, that a forensic study carried out by a recognized expert fell on the aforementioned recordings. It was possible to establish that it was a single recording; The originality of this file (recording) was analyzed by means of metadata.

It was concluded that the audio is not original or presented in its entirety. It was capriciously edited to be disseminated with a totally accommodating sense – entrapment of the victims. Noises were added. The aforementioned expert report is under chain of custody.

Juan Diego Quesada, in an irresponsible manner, compromises the important newspaper mentioned above, for which he is a correspondent, with the fabrication of a coup d’état allegedly promoted by the one who presents this complaint to you, Madam Attorney General, in collusion with public officials and advisers to Republican congressmen of your country, the United States of America. A whole fiction of a criminal conduct of Mr. Juan Diego Quesada, together with Mr. Gustavo Petro Urrego, President of Colombia. From this, the traceability of the iter criminis can be achieved so that the corresponding indictment falls on the accused  .

In the same edition of the Madrid edition of El País (Sunday, June 29, 2025), the date of President Gustavo Petro’s arrival in Seville, Spain, otherwise coincides with the date of President Gustavo Petro’s arrival in Seville, Spain, the newspaper points out: “Álvaro Leyva sought Trump’s complicity in the United States to overthrow Petro. I emphasize this because by the time of my few days in your country, Madam Attorney General, President Trump and his collaborators at the level of government had not yet been sworn in.

It is recalled that President Trump was sworn in as Head of State on the day

January 20, 2025. It is easy for you, Madam Attorney General, to confirm

with the immigration authorities at their disposal, that I arrived in the United States on Friday, January 3 of this year and that I left their country on Saturday, January 11. That is, this year, Madam Attorney General. I was in the USA for eight calendar days in total. So, that the White House “never considered the proposal” is a clumsy claim. It borders on stupidity. A total fallacy. Aberrant insult.

Alluding to an alleged interlocutor or informant of his, the journalist Quesada states: “He told us [referring to Álvaro Leyva, who signed the complaint], that he had all the tools to execute a plan to remove him [Gustavo Petro]. Her place would be taken by Francia Márquez [the vice president]. He [Leyva] had evidence that Petro could not continue to hold office and that if this went ahead, the president would not have the capacity to respond.” And Juan Diego Quesada adds: “The help of the Americans was very important,” says one of the people who met with Leyva, 82, in April. As you can see, Madam Attorney General, Juan Diego Quesada is physically present to me in the month of April of this year in your country. It was clear to me that I left the USA on the date already noted. I repeat: Saturday, January 11. The Attorney General can ascertain from the corresponding immigration records that I have not returned to the United States of America since that date.

https://caracol.com.co/2025/01/20/posesion-of-donald-trump-2025-livelast-hour-of-the-ceremony-and-his-first-decisions/.

The aforementioned journalist Quesada, Madam Attorney General, is adding lies. More insults. More trappings.

“The former foreign minister has not answered the questions on this matter that this newspaper has asked him,” says his correspondent Quesada.  Another lie. That newspaper has never asked me any questions. And he adds an additional falsehood like this: “(…). The former foreign minister and his son, Jorge Leyva, have good contacts among the ranks of the Republican Party of the United States.” And he continues: “In that way they asked their friends to organize a meeting with Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, representative for Florida.”

Madam Attorney General, it is easy for you to determine since when my son Jorge Leyva has not traveled to the United States of America. I can tell you in advance: For several years. Absolutely impossible his presence in the time, manner and place indicated by the journalist Juan Diego Quesada.

And the same shameless journalist continues: “(…). They also intended to meet with another well-known congressman in Miami, Carlos Antonio Giménez.” “They had,“ says Quesada. Are you referring to my son and me? Jorge Leyva, the one who has been absent for years, and me, who is making this complaint? I apologize to Carlos Antonio Giménez. I did not know the important role of Representative Giménez in U.S. politics. I confess that I knew nothing about him. I had no news of his background. We had no intention then of looking for the aforementioned congressman.

Madam Attorney General, I would like to refer to an interview that a Colombian media outlet of significant national and international importance gave to journalist Juan Diego Quesada on July 1. It is the Caracol Television Network. (Morning program, Noticias Caracol en Vivo). Interviewer, journalist Juan Camilo Cortés.

In the interview, which is fully included in the previous footnote, among the various responses, Juan Diego Quesada affirms what I record below:

To the question (the first), where the audios come from, he answers: “Well. A journalistic work from sources that I have cultivated for a long time. Almost from the beginning of the government. I can’t say much more.”

He adds: “I make a clarification about the first thing I told you… They are sources that I have had for a long time… no… not necessarily bound by institutionality.” Remember, Madam Attorney General, by the corresponding footnote, that Mrs. Sandra Lorena Arboleda Zárate, was head of the presidential campaign of the current President Gustavo Petro.

When asked if the audios are edited, he accepts that they were edited. And he adds: “There is a larger version, but it was edited for… for the understanding of the viewer, of the readers… they were parts where it was confusing… you didn’t understand what you heard and you didn’t… it did not add anything to the information.”

To the question about the fact that the journalist Quesada in his news item (the one published in El País de Madrid, on June 29), points out the search for meetings that Leyva has had with Republican congressmen, especially two, the interviewee says: “I have that documented. In fact, I spent a few weeks in the United States, in New York. Specifically I received the audios, but we do not publish like this lightly, we do not publish what we receive without checking and that was an investigation of ours that does not reach three weeks, it would remain in eighteen, nineteen, twenty days and I had access to advisors of these Republicans, even they came out yesterday and did not deny their … meetings with Álvaro Leyva that his son also played a role. What was said in those meetings… The testimonies I have collected say more or less what he says in the audios. (…)”.

It is worth noting Madam Attorney General, that the content of the audios does not refer at all to that particular. On the other hand, I tell you, Madam Attorney General, that I do not know a single adviser to any Republican. Not a single one. You may well find out.

On the subject, Juan Diego Quesada adds: “Yes… we have even interviewed you… We have listened to interviews. This morning Rep. Carlos Giménez said… he says, I don’t know how much influence former Foreign Minister Leyva and his son have on U.S. politics…”

Alluding to my name and Jorge Leyva, my son, the journalist Quesada indicates:

“He knows people, the son knows people mostly from Florida, I guess the next step was Donald J. Trump, but… have… the influence I suppose is small, it also sounds very crazy… that the United States, which is involved in a thousand things, suddenly worries about Petro when… when neither the situation is coup nor … or anything… The thing is that not even the United States has done anything in Venezuela, so I imagine that it would not have Colombia under its magnifying glass.”

Madam Attorney General: Mr. Journalist Juan Diego Quesada, correspondent in the Andean region of the newspaper El País of the Kingdom of Spain, invented and accommodated false value judgments.

The interview with Juan Diego Quesada continues, as follows: “There is also another detail of the investigation… This article does not take President Petro by surprise. (…). Of course, because I consulted him. I consulted him this week, or well last week before the publication because I wanted to get his version (…)”. (…), I tell him that… that my investigation is solid and I have verified that he went to the United States to seek the complicity of the… of the White House, which of course I would not publish audios like that out of nowhere and without having a fast check-in behind it, and well yes, I spoke with Petro about that.”

To the question asked by the Colombian interviewer to Quesada, if he knows who recorded the audios, the Spanish journalist answers: “I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t know, I don’t know.” And he adds: “The Colombian secret service had them and was the one who showed them to the President.” He continues: “If not even Leyva knows that who he was eating with has betrayed him and so has Leyva… this if it… I take it for granted, the New York source who says that he met with him in April, or I don’t remember if he told me March, April, I have… I have that doubt right now, I don’t remember by heart, he must know who was there, because of course he made those contacts with the Republicans through someone called Dorotea. I’ve never written this but look, I’ll tell you.”

Madam Attorney General, as you can see, Quesada is once again linking my son. It again places us in New York City. Let it be time to tell you that the last time I was in that city was in 2023, on the occasion of my appearance before the United Nations Security Council, in my capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Since then I have not been present in New York, much less with the supposed company of my son Jorge Leyva. And I remind you: It has already been established that I left your country on January 11. I haven’t been back since.

I continue, Madam Attorney General. Juan Diego Quesada links “someone named Dorotea” to the conspiracy, according to his saying. So deep was his research in that city that he did not know that Dorotea (Dorothy), is my younger sister, American by birth, residing in New York City. Juan Diego Quesada makes a fool of himself when the interviewer of the morning program, Noticias Caracol en Vivo affirms: “OK Dorotea”.

“Yes,” Quesada replies. To which the interviewer affirms, “it is like a link”.

To the latter, Juan Diego Quesada comments: “Yes. Leyva and the son use Dorotea to reach the advisors, although they know the Republicans, but it is a way of introducing themselves in a more … more direct.”

Later on, the interviewer asks Quesada: “Ehhh, is Dorotea a nickname? Or is it the name…”.

Quesada’s response: “I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t know, I don’t know.”

To end the interview, says the journalist of the Caracol Chain, Mr. Juan

Camilo Cortes: “Very good… Juan Diego Quesada, author of this research. Investigative article from the newspaper El País. Juan Diego, thank you very much, let me confess that it leaves the name of Dorotea in my head.”

Quesada responds: “Okay, okay. I’ll try to clear up that mystery.”

What is certain, Madam Attorney General, is that Juan Diego Quesada took advantage of the time of his alleged investigation in New York City, to be by the side of Mrs. Sandra Lorena Arboleda Zárate, at the time of the birth of their son. He was born on April 11. I refrain from mentioning the child’s name because it is a newborn.

Mrs. Sandra Lorena Arboleda Zárate was appointed as Counselor for Foreign Affairs attached to the Central Consulate General in New York, by Decree No. 0046 of January 20, 2025. Madam Attorney General, the administrative act of appointment is signed by the President of the Republic, Mr. Gustavo Petro. See footer.

It is worth adding that about the successes of his supposed investigation in New York City, Juan Diego Quesada did two additional interviews.  One with journalist Juan Carlos Vélez, YouTube channel B12Radio, and another on the YouTube channel Los Danieles. These interviews are attached in the corresponding footnote.

Madam Attorney General, it is easy to deduce that the journalist so often mentioned, Mr. Juan Diego Quesada and President Gustavo Petro Urrego, would have conspired to leak the fraudulent recordings and manipulate information through the aforementioned newspaper article, published in the international newspaper El País of Madrid, capital city of the Kingdom of Spain, with the purpose of exposing and pointing out advisors of Republican congressmen and congressmen themselves, and even the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, as co-participants in a coup d’état, allegedly promoted by these very high U.S. public officials in collusion with the one who denounces, Álvaro Leyva, at first identified, with Jorge Leyva, identified with the Colombian Citizenship Card No.

80,418,271 and my sister Dorotea Leyva (Mary Dorothy Leyva), a U.S. citizen by birth, born in Manhattan, a neighborhood of New York City.

York, on January 12, 1958, at ST. Clare’s Hospital. Additional IDs for Mary Dorothy (Dorotea): New York State, Identification Card No. 110 818 296, United States Passport No. 570453167.

Madam Attorney General, I can abound in fearful and malicious pronouncements by Mr. Gustavo Petro, aimed at fabricating a conspiracy of mine accompanied by third nationals and U.S. servants with the purpose of seeking an illicit means to bring about his overthrow.

In May of this year, Petro gave two public speeches that demonstrate this. In one, he directly pointed to U.S. Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, of being the alleged manager of a conspiracy, in the company of a “jefe gremial,“ promoting a coup d’état against him. Thus, he links that American public servant to the spawn of a plot.

In a second speech, delivered in the Plaza de Armas of Bogotá, capital city of Colombia, President Gustavo Petro pointed out that the undersigned (Álvaro

Leyva, complainant) is a “decrepit old madman” and that what happened is “a plot. And the plot is not national, it is not of Colombians, although there is

Colombians,” Petro said, “and therefore, it is very dangerous because it is an attack on the sovereignty of Colombia and the freedom of Colombians.” The above was accompanied by a message X after that intervention in which he notes:

“(…), Díaz-Balart, do not try to overthrow the President of Colombia, because you will unleash the Colombian revolution.” This is Mario Diaz-Balart, Representative to the House of the United States. Keep in mind, Madam Attorney General, that the Spanish journalist, Juan Diego Quesada, in his malicious and insulting inventiveness, had already alluded to Diaz-Balart and other Americans such as Representative Giménez, regarding the plot to overthrow Mr. Petro.

Madam Attorney General: Mr. Gustavo Petro’s obsession with accusing Álvaro Leyva (complainant), and high-level American congressmen and public officials of being conspirators is so evident, that he fraudulently publicly insinuated without any blush, that other Colombians would be accomplices of the person who advances this denunciation, in the conspiratorial conduct. Such is the case of Mr. Bruce Mac Master, president of the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia, ANDI, (See footnote) who on August 18 was accused by President Petro of being involved in the alleged

overthrow. (Petro had already referred to a “Jefe Gremial” as a coup plotter). In a post on the social network X he stated the following: “Bruce Mac Master has not clarified why he is mentioned in Leyva’s recordings. Did he dare to collaborate in a coup d’état? The prosecutor’s office should clarify this attempt at sedition for us. (…)”. Look, Madam Attorney General, Petro takes it for granted that there was an attempt at sedition.

Mr. Mac Master in message X of August 18 responds to President Petro as follows: “To Gustavo Petro I propose that we clarify this and many issues to the country.

“I have said publicly and in the media that in fact, Mr. Leyva asked me to meet and told me practically everything that was included in the letters that he later published. I have also said that he is not the only former minister of his, with whom I have spoken. I constantly talk to several.

“Now it is your turn, President, clarify for us all the pending issues you have. If you want, we can make the list together. Cases of corruption that they do not clarify for us, his actions around the functions of the position, public policy decisions far from the technique and the general benefit, attacks on freedom of the press, appointments and dismissals. There are countless issues that the nation deserves to be clarified.

“Now, if you are going to continue accusing me of a crime, you better have substantive reasons to do so, and concrete evidence, because otherwise, we will have to settle it in justice and perhaps not only nationally, but before international organizations, which protect all the rights that you violate when you assume your anti-democratic persecutions,  using their position of institutional power to attack and affect the reputation of many, and put us in danger.”

Madam Attorney General: The letters mentioned in the aforementioned post by Mr. Bruce Mac Master, I will send them to you as soon as possible.  I will also send you what I said as a witness, in my appearance before the Commission of Investigation and Accusation of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Republic of my country. I was summoned to explain the contents of these letters.

And Gustavo Petro’s desire to continue linking those who today denounce him to you is constant; and he makes U.S. public servants accomplices in a conscious and malicious manner, Madam Attorney General. This is evidenced by what was stated in the recent message X that he released on September 17, which reads as follows: “@petrogustavo -Alvaro Leyva and the decertification. It was already in its recording.” A fallacious lie.

Madam Attorney General: The corrupt intention of the Spanish journalist Juan Diego Quesada, in collusion with Gustavo Petro, President of the Republic of Colombia today, can be measured by the headline of the newspaper El País de Madrid of the Kingdom of Spain, on June 29 of this year. I remind you:

Former Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva sought Trump’s complicity in the United States to overthrow Petro

Juan Diego Quesada instrumentalized the important media to put it in the title and affirm in a restrictive way such barbarity. I, Álvaro Leyva, Colombian, hand in hand with the President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, acted in a malicious and organized manner to overthrow Gustavo Petro from the presidency?

Regarding the opinion that Mr. Gustavo Petro has of his Head of State, Donald Trump, Madam Attorney General, I would like to attach message X from Mr. Petro. See footer.

****

Madam Attorney General: The damage caused to society in general, to me personally, to my son Jorge Leyva, to my entire family, to my sister Dorotea Leyva (Mary Dorothy), with the accusation made to us by the defendants identified above, either directly or indirectly, and by the newspaper El País de Madrid of the Kingdom of Spain,  of having conspired in the United States of America, in alleged complicity with public servants of his country, including President Donald J. Trump, to carry out a coup d’état in the Republic

of Colombia and the recent decertification (U.S. evaluation of the effectiveness of the Colombian government’s fight against illicit crops and criminal structures), requires all the investigative and sanctioning scopes that allow the application of American norms and local jurisprudence at its disposal.

I add, however, that all of the above is denounced to you, Madam Attorney General, within the framework of the international agreements on judicial cooperation Colombia-United States, since some of the victims are citizens of the United States of America. This does not prevent me from taking the liberty of recalling the rules that I indicate below:

18 U.S.C. § 371 — Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

18 U.S.C. § 1001 — False Statements

18 U.S.C. § 241 — Conspiracy Against Rights

18 U.S.C. § 2 — Aiding and Abetting

Madam Attorney General, I add to the foregoing, by way of recall, that the Supreme Court of the United States, in Branzburg v. Hayes (1972), ruled unequivocally that “the First Amendment does not relieve a newspaper reporter from the obligation to respond to a grand jury subpoena and answer questions relevant to a criminal investigation.” The Court affirmed that journalists, like all citizens, must provide

evidence of criminal conduct. In addition, in United States v. Sterling (4th Cir. 2013), the court reinforced that a journalist can be compelled to testify about a source when the information relates to the commission of a crime, and the government’s interest in investigating and prosecuting that crime.

Finally, please bear in mind, Madam Attorney General, that for whatever is necessary, I, Álvaro Leyva Durán, in my capacity as complainant, place myself at your entire disposal.

With all due respect and consideration, Madam Attorney General of the United States of America, I subscribe very respectfully.

Above photo: Alvaro Leyva when he was Petro’s foreign minister (courtesy Minexterior)

The enterprise value of the transaction is up to $2.905 billion MXN, equivalent to approximately $609 billion COP based on the current exchange rate. The equity value of the transaction is up to $1.598 billion MXN, representing approximately $335 billion COP.

The agreement has been signed, but the transaction’s completion is contingent on a series of closing conditions, including the approval of the Mexican competition authority, the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (COFECE). The fulfillment of these conditions requires the joint effort of buyers, sellers, and other involved third parties, introducing an element of uncertainty regarding the final closing.

Since 2021, Grupo EPM has been evaluating options to improve TICSA’s performance and optimize its corporate portfolio. In line with this strategy, a decision was made in late 2023 to pursue a total divestment through an open and competitive sale process. The process invited 33 potential strategic investors and investment funds from various countries, including Canada, Spain, France, the United States, Japan, and Mexico. Odinsa ultimately submitted the most favorable offer and was selected for the final phase, culminating in the signing of the share purchase agreement.

“At Grupo EPM, we are adjusting our investment portfolio to focus our human and financial resources on markets and projects where we have greater opportunities for growth, value creation, and sustainability,” stated John Maya Salazar, general manager of EPM and leader of the EPM Group. “TICSA is a company with proven technical capabilities and a distinguished track record in the water sector. In the hands of a manager like Odinsa, with a strong investment capacity and proven experience in structuring, operating, and maintaining infrastructure assets, its development and expansion can be enhanced.”

In 2013, TICSA became part of Grupo EPM after a capital investment gave the company a majority stake, making it the first international water sector company in the corporate group. Subsequently, Grupo EPM acquired 100% of its shares in 2019. To date, TICSA has constructed and operated more than 160 water treatment plants, consolidating its technical leadership in Mexico and other markets.

Tecnología Intercontinental, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (TICSA). Photo credit: Ticsa Grupo EPM/Facebook.

Organized by Agrilink and Corferias , the exposition served as a platform for showcasing technological advancements in agribusiness, including drones, software applications, and other digital tools. Sustainability was a reported theme throughout the event. “Once again, we connect all the actors of the agri-food ecosystem with their audiences, consolidating ourselves as the epicenter of the evolution of agriculture,” said Doris Chingaté, project manager for Expo Agrofuturo at Corferias.

The AgroMatch business roundtable held 459 meetings connecting 160 exhibitors with 33 buyers. Photo credit: Corferias.

Ricardo Jaramillo, CEO of Agrilink, stated, “We have been connecting field producers with technology for almost 20 years. Implementing tools such as technification, data management, and the use of drones allows industry players to improve productivity, optimize times, and increase profitability.”

A significant component of the event was the business roundtable, named AgroMatch, which facilitated 459 meetings between 160 exhibitors and 33 buyers. Participants came from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, the United States, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. These meetings resulted in projected business expectations of $5,976,710 USD.

The dollar value of committed deals is as follows:

• 1 to 3 months: $685,245
• 3 to 6 months: $1,763,598
• 6 to 12 months: $1,856,324

Products negotiated included fresh produce such as Hass avocados, citrus fruits, and various tropical fruits, as well as meat, dairy, coffee, and cocoa.

The academic portion of the event, the Agricultural Innovation Forum (FIXA), featured over 15 speakers and more than 100 activities. Discussions focused on topics like sustainability in livestock, soil management, new markets, and technology.

The next edition of Expo Agrofuturo is scheduled to be held in Bogotá at the Corferias fairgrounds. The event takes advantage of Econexia, Corferias’s digital business and networking platform.

Photo credit: Corferias.

The conference agenda included discussions on artificial intelligence (AI), smart cities, and cybersecurity. Over 120 speakers were scheduled to present. Keynote speakers included physicist and author Dr. Michio Kaku. Additional participants include Spain’s Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Administration, Óscar López, and a delegation from the United Arab Emirates.

Event Focus and Speakers

According to Adriana Leal, manager of ANDICOM, the event has positioned Cartagena as a hub for technology and innovation. Leal noted the participation of Kaku, an author recognized for his work on quantum computing, and the presence of López, along with the delegation from the UAE.

Yamil Arana Padauí, governor of Bolívar, stated that ANDICOM provides an opportunity to showcase projects such as Mompox Inteligente, a local connectivity and technology initiative.

Agenda and Thematic Tracks

The pre-conference on September 2 featured three main tracks:

• CyberShield Forum: This track addresses cybersecurity, deepfakes, and cyber-resilience.
• Autonomous Agents: This segment focuses on the application of AI in corporate processes.
• CINTEL Future Cities: This track covers topics such as digital tourism, smart cities, and urban mobility.

From September 3 to 5, the main conference focused on digital evolution, the future of the IT sector, and the role of the economy in the AI era. International delegations from countries including the United States, Belgium, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, the Czech Republic, and Canada are expected to attend.

The conference also hosted three award ceremonies to recognize regional innovation: the Digital Transformation Innovation Awards (in collaboration with PwC), the Smart City Innovator Awards 2025, and the Enterprise Cybersecurity Awards (a partnership between ETEK International and CINTEL).

Business and Networking

ANDICOM’s networking initiatives include the “Meet and Business” room, which will bring together executives from 28 companies, including Coca-Cola FEMSA (NYSE: KOF), ISA (BVC: ISA), Allianz (FWB: ALV; SIX: ALV), and Arturo Calle. This space is designed to facilitate direct connections between companies seeking technological solutions and providers.

The event also features a business roundtable for one-on-one meetings between sponsors and C-level executives, with the capacity for up to 400 scheduled meetings over the four days.

Conference Statistics

• Estimated Participants: 6,s00+
• Participating Countries: 35+
• Companies Represented: 250+
• Speakers: 120+
• Academic Sessions: 80+

ANDICOM 2025. Photo credit: CINTEL.

PROI is recognized globally for leading innovation in methodologies and technological advancements within a rapidly evolving industry. In a world where constant adaptation is crucial — driven by the advent of Artificial Intelligence, the surge of fake news, bots, trolls, avatars, and other digital entities — PROI continues to set the pace for effective communication strategies across the globe.

Mauricio Ferro, an alumnus of CESA and the Darla School of Management Columbia, South Carolina, and mentee of Miguel Silva Pinzón, former Managing Director at Weber Shandwick and FTI, has been a leader within PROI, consistently consulted by C-Level executives of major corporations throughout Latin America, Spain, and the US for his expertise in strategic communication. His career spans over 25 years of delivering impactful insights and materials that support media and public relations efforts.

He has served as a trusted advisor to six ministers of state during a period when such roles commanded significant respect. Through his creativity and resourcefulness, Mauricio has helped shape the positioning and protect the reputation of hundreds of brands, companies, and organizations.

Earlier in his career, Mauricio founded Position Comunicaciones, pioneering social listening algorithms in Colombia. Coming from Microsoft, his natural affinity for technology enabled his team to adapt and parameterize Radian6 software in Spanish, positioning the agency as a regional leader. This innovation attracted multiple international companies seeking strategic partnerships.

In 2015, Edelman Worldwide acquired his agency, recognizing its innovative methodologies and technological edge, appointing Mauricio as the first Edelman President in Colombia.

In 2020, Mauricio launched his current venture, TANK, which has distinguished itself globally through advanced crisis management solutions and immersive training using hyper-realistic Virtual Reality technology — services that are unparalleled in Colombia and abroad. His participation in an expert panel in Stresa, Italy, convened by PROI, exemplifies his leadership and innovation on the international stage.

Today, TANK exports services to multiple countries in diverse sectors, including finance, technology, healthcare, and energy, driven by Mauricio’s innovative approach and Colombia’s top-tier development talent.
His contributions have been recognized internationally; he has been featured in Forbes USA, and in 2014, PRovoke Media named him among their “Innovators25” for pioneering industry innovations.

TANK’s portfolio includes AI-driven tools such as PRejavú, a virtual reality and AI platform for accelerated executive training, a predictive software that analyzes the potential impact of online posts and news, and an advanced digital media buying system optimized through AI and data analytics — all designed to reduce costs for clients and enhance lead targeting.

Mauricio emphasizes that TANK has invested over five years in AI development, well before the widespread recognition of ChatGPT’s capabilities. Since 2023, the full suite of products, now matured and proven, has been exported internationally, showcasing 100% Colombian technology.

In circumstances where companies face reputation and positioning challenges — from stock markets and extractive industries to technology and healthcare sectors — Mauricio’s strategic insights, rooted in extensive experience and data-driven analysis, prove invaluable. This has positioned TANK as one of the most innovative and trusted firms in the communications industry globally.

Global Director of Crisis Management at PROI, Mauricio Ferro. Photo credit: PROI.

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.

According to data from Migración Colombia, analyzed by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT), Colombia saw 367,585 non-resident foreign visitors in June 2025. This figure marks a 2.1% increase compared to the 359,923 arrivals in June 2024 and a more substantial 12.2% rise from June 2023.

The United States remains the largest source of visitors, accounting for 31% of all arrivals. The government also highlighted significant year-over-year growth from other key markets in June, with a 23% increase in visitors from Brazil, 19% from Spain, and 11.6% from Mexico.

Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport remains the primary port of entry, receiving 37.2% of international visitors. Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport followed with 26%, and Cartagena’s Rafael Núñez International Airport accounted for 16.7%.

Despite a slight 1.9% decrease in overall air traffic in May 2025, international air travel grew by 5.8% compared to the same month in the previous year. Between January and May 2025, Colombian airports handled 22.3 million passengers, with 9.7 million on international flights, representing a 2.3% increase over the same period in 2024.

The hotel sector has also shown modest gains. According to the national statistics agency, DANE, hotel occupancy reached 47.3% in May 2025, a slight increase of 0.7 percentage points from May 2024. Bogotá led with a 58.7% occupancy rate, followed by San Andrés at 57.3% and Cartagena at 56.6%.

Infrastructure Under Strain

The celebratory tone of the government’s announcement is at odds with the reality on the ground at the nation’s key airports. As reported by Finance Colombia, the national government’s failure to adequately staff and resource Migración Colombia is leading to critical bottlenecks and processing delays of several hours for both arriving and departing passengers. This issue has become particularly acute at Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport, which serves the country’s second-largest city and a major tourist hub. Read the full Finance Colombia article here: Medellín’s Mayor Says Colombian Government Ignoring Offers to Help Solve Overcrowding at International Airport.

These operational failures have prompted sharp criticism from prominent public figures, who warn that the country’s image and economic potential are being undermined.

Former Vice President Sounds Alarm Over Airport Crisis

In a strongly worded letter dated July 31, 2025, former Vice President and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marta Lucía Ramírez, addressed the heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aeronáutica Civil (the Civil Aeronautics authority), and Migración Colombia, calling for urgent measures to address the “inefficiency, illegality, and discrimination in the immigration processes” at José María Córdova International Airport.

Former vice president Marta Lucía Ramírez. Photo: Twitter.

Ramírez highlighted that extensive queues and “unjustified delays” during the recent ColombiaModa fashion event created “operational trauma” and negatively impacted travelers’ experiences. She expressed deep concern that with Medellín’s world-renowned Feria de las Flores (Festival of the Flowers) approaching, a cornerstone of the region’s tourism calendar, the situation threatens the economic dynamism of the entire department of Antioquia.

The former Vice President’s letter underscores that as a member state of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Colombia is obligated to provide agile, secure, and efficient immigration processes without discrimination. She pointed out the irony of the government’s efficient BIOMIG system for Colombian citizens, which, while commendable, creates a choke point for international tourists who are not eligible to use it.

Ramírez called for an immediate increase in immigration personnel, the implementation of new technologies to expedite passenger flow, and a guarantee of dignified and timely service for all visitors. She also noted that her call for more staffing comes as the immigration authority has recently seen two increases to its personnel roster.

The letter concludes with a warning that the persistent issues could be perceived as a “deliberate policy of the National Government to harm Antioquia,” a perception that she argues could damage institutional cohesion. The letter was also copied to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the Ministry of Transportation, the Governor of Antioquia, and the Mayor of Medellín.

Below is the full (translated) text of former Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez’s letter:

Marta Lucía Ramírez de Rincón, Bogotá, July 31, 2025

To: Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy, minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Colombia

Brigadier General (r) José Henry Pinto Rodríguez, general director of the Civil Aeronautics Authority

Gloria Esperanza Arriero López, general director of Migración Colombia

Subject: Urgent request for measures to guarantee efficiency, legality, and non-discrimination in the immigration processes at José María Córdova International Airport for any flight arriving from abroad.

Copied to: Diana Marcela Morales Rojas, minister of commerce, industry, and tourism

María Fernanda Rojas, minister of transportation

Andrés Julián Rendón Cardona, governor of the Department of Antioquia

Federico Andrés Gutiérrez Zuluaga, mayor of Medellín

With the proximity of the Feria de las Flores, an emblematic event of the Paisa culture and great relevance for national and international tourism, I respectfully address Migración Colombia and the competent authorities to express our deep concern about the current conditions of the immigration process at the José María Córdova International Airport.

In recent weeks, extensive queues and unjustified delays have been reported, which affected attendance at ColombiaModa with multiple situations of delay, passenger discrimination, and inefficiency, evidencing the operational trauma in immigration controls.

This situation directly affects the experience of travelers, deteriorates the country’s image, and puts at risk the economic dynamism generated by tourism and business in Antioquia, a department that, like all others, needs and deserves the support of all institutions belonging to the national government, especially when it is the second source of tax revenue for the Nation.

As a member state of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Colombia is committed to complying with the international standards established in the Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in Chicago in 1944 and approved by Law 12 of 1947. These standards recommend that States guarantee agile, safe, and efficient immigration processes without any discrimination between foreigners and nationals arriving on flights from abroad, which must be anticipated and resolved, especially at airports with high passenger traffic.

Likewise, Decree 1294 of 2021 establishes that the Civil Aeronautics Authority must adjust its operation to ICAO procedures to ensure safe, efficient, and responsible civil aviation. Law 336 of 1996, in its article 2, states that the protection of users is an essential priority of the transportation system, and article 68 recognizes air transport as an essential public service. Additionally, Article 9 of Law 105 of 1993 underscores the obligation of authorities to guarantee efficiency and quality in the provision of public services, which includes immigration processes at international airports.

In this context, it is important to highlight that the BIOMIG system has proven to be an efficient and agile tool for the immigration control of previously registered Colombian citizens. Its operation has been exemplary and represents a model of modernization that must be maintained, promoted, and reinforced. However, by not being available to international tourists, a bottleneck is created in the lines intended for foreigners, which aggravates congestion and negatively affects the perception of the country as a pleasant tourist destination.

Therefore, we make an urgent call to Migración Colombia to:

• • • Reinforce its operation at the Rionegro airport by increasing personnel at immigration control points. Taking into account, among other things, that this institution has been the subject of two recent increases in its staff.
    • Implement technologies that speed up the flow of international passengers, including, among others, expanding and promoting the use of systems such as BIOMIG for nationals and exploring similar alternatives for frequent foreign travelers.
    • Guarantee efficient, dignified, and timely attention for all visitors, without distinction of nationality.

It is essential to prevent this situation from being interpreted as part of a deliberate policy of the National Government to harm Antioquia, a perception that could affect institutional cohesion and the complementarity between the different state institutions, as provided by the national constitution.

We trust in the commitment of the authorities to ensure that Colombia continues to be a welcoming, competitive, and respectful destination of international standards.

Sincerely,

Marta Lucía Ramírez de Rincón, former vice president of the Republic of Colombia, former minister of foreign affairs, former minister of foreign trade

Cartagena’s Rafael Nuñez International Airport is stretched beyond capacity, with passengers lacking adequate seating. Photo credit: Loren Moss.

Several outsourcing firms won accolades in the 2025 CX Interaction Awards, which drew participants from around the globe, including Shelli Ryan from Ad Hoc Communications, who visited from the US.

Ana Karian Quessep, president of BPrO, the outsourcing industry’s trade association in Colombia, Ricardo Durán, and John Santafe Correa from Outsourcing SAS BIC, Jill Erika Charry from Atento, Óscar Velásquez from Konecta, Pablo Vega Pinochet from Voz Digital, Iván Pacheco Durango from the city of Montería, Colombia, and María Juliana Herrera from Huawei discuss their takeaways from the event in this video recap.

Video and featured image credit: Loren Moss/YouTube.