Colombia and Argentina resume dialogue to repair relations

The ministries of Foreign Affairs of Argentina and Colombia released a joint statement on Sunday night (March 31, 2024) saying that “the respective governments have taken concrete measures to overcome possible differences” and strengthen the bilateral relationship.

The measure comes after Argentine president, Javier Milei, called Colombian leader, Gustavo Petro, “terrorist murderer”. In response, Colombia expelled Argentine diplomats from the country. This was the second time that the Argentine referred to Petro as “murderer”.

In the statement released on Sunday (full, in Spanish – PDF – 134 kB), the Colombian government said it had given instructions to the Colombian ambassador to return to Buenos Aires, “at the same time that he gave approval to the new ambassador proposed by the Argentine government in Bogotá”.

The Argentine government, in turn, announced the visit of its chancellor, Diana Mondino, to Colombia.

“Under precise instructions from the presidents of both nations, the foreign ministries of Colombia and Argentina have held talks to strengthen diplomatic relations.”says the note.

“A few days after the 201st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Republic of Argentina and the Republic of Colombia ratify the importance of maintaining good relations and maintain the desire to strengthen the ties that unite the 2 countries.”

MILES X PETRO

Milei’s statement was given on March 27, in an interview with CNN. When referring to Petro, the Argentine president said that “You can’t expect much from someone who was a terrorist murderer.”.

Here is what Milei said: “The carnage that is Venezuela is truly unprecedented. The same as the prison island of Cuba. So, then there are other cases that are on the way… No? Let’s say, as was the case in Colombia with Mr. Petro, that, let’s say, you can’t expect much from someone who was a terrorist murderer, right? Communist.”

In January, Milei had already said that Petro was a “murderous communist”.

The tension between Milei and Petro began after Javier Milei was elected in November last year. At the time, the Colombian president lamented the result of the Argentine election: “Sad for Latin America. Neoliberalism no longer has a proposal for society, it cannot respond to humanity’s current problems.”