CALI, Colombia—Abelardo de la Espriella takes office as Colombia’s president today with a clear aim: to strengthen ties with Washington around trade, investment, and security.
That push marks a sharp break from the turbulent relationship under outgoing President Gustavo Petro, with whom US President Donald Trump repeatedly clashed. It also gives both administrations an opportunity to advance the agenda they have started to build during the transition—one that can expand opportunities for US business, boost Colombian production, and create safer conditions for economic activity.
The two administrations have already begun laying the groundwork. In July, Vice President-elect José Manuel Restrepo and several ministers-designate traveled to Washington to meet with US lawmakers, policymakers, and business leaders. The visit led to plans for formal working groups, which began meeting in Barranquilla last week. That is an unusual level of engagement before inauguration day—and a clear signal that both sides see the other as an important partner.
From our work on regional policy and across Colombia’s public and private sectors, we see the economic agenda as one of the clearest opportunities to start turning this political opening into results. The United States remains Colombia’s leading trade and investment partner, while Colombia ranks as the third largest US trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean. Bilateral goods trade reached over $37 billion in 2025. More than six hundred US companies operate in Colombia, supporting over 107,000 jobs.
