Washington / Bogotá, July 11 (Comprehensive Report)

On July 10, the United States and 12 member states of the “American Shield” alliance issued a joint statement expressing “deep concern” over Colombia’s escalating political crisis and calling on all Colombian parties to ensure a “peaceful, orderly, and transparent” transfer of power.

The statement, released by the U.S. Department of State, read: “We make a firm appeal to all Colombian authorities to act strictly in accordance with the constitution, law, and democratic principles… to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and transparent transition in a manner consistent with the highest standards of the rule of law.” The signatories include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Political Crisis Deepens

The joint statement comes against the backdrop of a deepening political crisis in Colombia since the second round of the presidential election on June 21. According to the official results published by the National Civil Registry, independent candidate Abelardo de la Espriella of the far‑right political group “Defenders of the Fatherland” won the presidency with approximately 52% of the vote, defeating Iván Cepeida of the ruling “Historical Pact” coalition.

However, incumbent President Gustavo Petro has repeatedly questioned the election results, alleging electoral fraud without providing any substantive evidence. Earlier this week, Petro told parliament: “Abelardo did not win the election.” Colombia’s National Electoral Council and international observers have stated that they found no signs of fraud.

President‑Elect Suspends Transition Process
In response to Petro’s ongoing challenges, President‑elect de la Espriella, who has received public support from U.S. President Trump, earlier this week asked his team to suspend the formal transition process with the Petro government (known in Colombia as the “empalme”), arguing that the current administration is exacerbating political instability.

De la Espriella went further, accusing Petro of attempting a “coup” to prevent the transfer of power. In a video message, he said that Petro and Cepeida are implementing a plan “to cling to power at all costs.”

Meanwhile, Petro has called on his supporters to hold a massive demonstration on July 20—the eve of Colombia’s Independence Day—to protest the election outcome.

Brazil Mediates, Petro Pledges Commitment

Notably, Brazil has played a mediating role in the crisis. On the morning of July 10, President Petro held a telephone conversation with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The Brazilian presidential palace subsequently issued a statement saying that Petro “reaffirmed his commitment to democracy and a peaceful transition” and that he would step down as scheduled on August 6. Under the constitution, Petro cannot run for re‑election. The new president, de la Espriella, is scheduled to be sworn in on August 7.

First Political Stance by “American Shield” Alliance
The “American Shield” alliance was launched by President Trump in March at a summit of American nations convened in Florida, with the aim of strengthening cooperation against organized crime, illegal immigration, and regional security.

This joint statement marks the first time the alliance has taken a unified stance on the domestic political affairs of a member country. The statement emphasized: “The transition between governments is not a political concession, but a constitutional and institutional obligation.” It also warned that ignoring the official election results “constitutes a serious disregard for the popular will and the principles of the rule of law.”

This public pressure highlights the deep concern of Washington and its allies over Colombia’s political trajectory, and reflects the escalating rivalry between left‑ and right‑wing political forces in Latin America.

On July 1, 2026, Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi officially took over the pro tempore presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) from Paraguayan President Santiago Peña at the 68th Summit of Heads of State held in Luque, Paraguay. The ceremony was attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, and other leaders of member states.

In his inaugural address, Orsi stated that the priorities of Uruguay’s presidency term are to “continue advancing the modernization of the bloc” and consolidate its trade openness. He emphasized: “We want to see a more modern, more dynamic Mercosur that is more open to the world, but above all, a Mercosur that delivers tangible results for its citizens”. Orsi described the past six months as “historic,” as the bloc signed a trade agreement with the European Union, which he called a “turning point” for economic integration and investment. He indicated that during Uruguay’s term, “special emphasis” will be placed on implementing the agreement with the EU and strengthening relations with the European Free Trade Association. The next summit in December will host the first council meeting of the interim trade agreement and the first business forum between the two blocs.

In terms of foreign economic relations, Orsi said Uruguay would push to conclude trade negotiations with Canada and the United Arab Emirates, and advance talks with India, Vietnam, and Japan — negotiations with these countries were announced by the bloc earlier this week. He stated: “The challenges of our time call for more cooperation, not less; more dialogue, not less; more integration, not less”.

On domestic border integration, Orsi announced plans to modernize border integration control zones to facilitate the flow of goods and people. “Borders are not barriers,” he said, “but places where millions of people live, work, study, and start businesses every day”. In the security domain, Uruguay will seek to strengthen regional coordination in combating transnational organized crime.

Notably, Uruguay’s assumption of the Mercosur pro tempore presidency means it now concurrently holds the presidency of multiple key multilateral mechanisms, including CELAC, the Group of 77 plus China, and the Brasília Consensus.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the Head of State of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, held a meeting this Monday to advance preparations for the summit of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which will take place next November in the Colombian city of Santa Marta.

Costa, who met with Petro on the sidelines of the Fourth UN International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, emphasized on social media that the meeting in Santa Marta will be “a key meeting to deepen the alliance” between the two blocs. This is the fourth high-level summit between the parties, more than two years after the one hosted by Brussels in July 2023.

Petro and Costa also took advantage of this meeting in the Andalusian capital to reaffirm shared values and advocate for strengthening areas of common interest, including “multilateralism, trade, climate action, energy, regional interconnections, and security.”