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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in Barranquilla, northern Colombia, who took office on August 7, 2026. The meeting, held at the Paraíso battalion in the presence of Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar, resulted in two memoranda of understanding, one on civil nuclear energy, the other on critical minerals including lithium and copper. This was the first visit by a high-ranking official of the Trump administration to Colombia since De la Espriella took office. The Colombian leg opened a three-day tour to be continued in Ecuador and then Peru, until September 10, without a stop in Brazil.
The two memoranda signed in Barranquilla remain non-binding; Rubio has set no schedule for a reduction in the 12.5% tariff on Colombian exports.
The two men have known each other since a wedding in Florida, before the Colombian's entry into politics.
Colombia has joined the A3C, a security alliance promoted by Washington, and authorized joint military operations.
In Quito, Rubio designated the Los Tiguerones gang as a terrorist organization and banned entry to seven former officials.
In Lima, Rubio formalized Peru's entry into the Americas Shield, a security alliance promoted by Washington.
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