International
Foreign ministers of Colombia and Argentina settle crisis and open a “new moment” in the relationship
The chancellor in charge of Colombia, Luis Gilberto Murillo, and his Argentine counterpart, Diana Mondino, met in Bogotá to settle the diplomatic crisis caused by the repeated offenses of President Javier Milei to his counterpart Gustavo Petro and start a “new moment” of the bilateral relationship.
The meeting took place at the Palacio de San Carlos, headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, where Murillo and Mondino shook hands after three months of diplomatic tensions.
“It was a very productive meeting where we found areas of collaboration in different sectors; cooperation on security issues, cooperation on commercial issues, economic development and, above all, reaffirming our areas of understanding,” said the Colombian minister.
Murillo added that there is “a very close relationship between Colombia and Argentina and this is a new moment in the relationship that we want to maintain in very pragmatic terms and for the benefit of both countries, both peoples and both nations.”
The meeting was behind closed doors but in photos released by the Colombian Foreign Ministry, the two foreign ministers are smiling and accompanied by other officials.
The meeting began at noon and in it Murillo and Mondino discussed issues such as bilateral trade, tourism, cooperation, security and business development, among others.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Colombia has a special interest in expanding the commercial agenda with Argentina in tourism and sustainable development,” while stressing that the two countries have “a strong cooperation relationship on defense issues.”
During her visit to Bogotá, the chancellor also met with the special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, and plans to meet with the head of the OAS Peace Process Support Mission in Colombia (MAPP/OAS), Roberto Menéndez.
Two weeks ago, when announcing Mondino’s visit, the Colombian ambassador to Buenos Aires, Camilo Romero, assured that the purpose was to “renew the bonds of friendship that have united us for more than 200 years,” since “the affection, affection and brotherhood of our peoples must always be superior.”
Romero had been called to consultations in Bogotá on January 26, after Milei assured, in an interview with journalist Patricia Janiot, that the Colombian president “is a murderous communist who is sinking” the country.
That was the first chapter of the quarrel between the two Governments over Milei’s statements, who a month later, on February 24, referred to Petro as “a lethal plague for the Colombians themselves,” in response to a question from a journalist from the NTN24 channel, which caused a “energic rejection” by the Foreign Ministry of Bogotá of what he called “irresponsible statements” of the Argentine president.
The straw that broke the camel’s eye was the interview given on March 26 by Milei to the CNN en Español channel in which he called Petro a “terrorist murderer.”
What motivated the announcement of the expulsion of diplomats from the Argentine embassy in Colombia, a drastic measure that was not implemented.
On March 31, in a joint statement, the Argentine and Colombian Foreign Ministries said that they had held talks to “strengthen diplomatic relations,” a gesture that indicated that the waters had calmed down and that today’s meeting confirms that normality has returned.
After this Friday’s meeting, Romero assured that what happened “should never have happened,” but “the Governments, the Foreign Ministries have done a great job, the voice of diplomacy has been imposed on that of insults.”
Romero added that today’s meeting “whe does is honor the past: 201 years of relations between the two countries and of course strengthen that bond, that bond (…) for the well-being of the people and the well-being of the citizenry.”
“This shows how to solve conflicts, something very necessary in today’s world,” said the Colombian ambassador in Buenos Aires.
Central America
U.S. Authorities Accuse Guatemalan Nationals of Using False Information to Sponsor Migrant Minors
Senior officials from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday criminal charges against three Guatemalan citizens accused of using false information to sponsor migrant children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or guardian.
According to an indictment filed in Ohio, Maritza Cahuec Coc allegedly submitted at least 12 sponsorship applications, several of which were filed under aliases or contained materially false statements intended to secure custody of the minors.
Under U.S. procedures, unaccompanied migrant children apprehended at the southern border are placed in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for their care until they can be released to a qualified sponsor, such as a parent or relative living in the United States.
Prosecutors allege that Cahuec Coc, who reportedly entered the United States illegally in 2018, received payments between late 2020 and 2023 for helping bring 12 migrant minors into the country. Authorities claim she submitted fraudulent documents and misleading information to obtain approval for the sponsorship requests.
The case was announced during a joint press conference led by Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. However, officials provided limited details about the investigation and instead focused much of their remarks on criticizing immigration policies implemented under the previous administration.
Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials have frequently pointed to the increase in unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border during President Joe Biden’s term, arguing that the government failed to adequately oversee their care and placement.
During Thursday’s briefing, A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, alleged that Cahuec Coc used the identities of other individuals and falsely claimed family relationships in order to obtain custody of the children.
“Maritza submitted sponsorship applications using other people’s identities and falsely represented that the minors were the children of close relatives in order to secure their release,” Duva said.
The case remains under investigation, and federal authorities have not yet disclosed additional information regarding the other two Guatemalan nationals charged in connection with the alleged scheme.
International
Iván Cepeda Open to Revising Colombia’s Peace Policy Ahead of Runoff Election
Colombian presidential candidate Iván Cepeda said Thursday that he is willing to introduce “necessary changes” to the peace policy implemented by President Gustavo Petro, a strategy he helped design and promote during the current administration.
The future of Petro’s controversial “Total Peace” initiative has become one of the central issues in Colombia’s presidential runoff election, scheduled for June 21, where Cepeda will face right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella.
De la Espriella, who narrowly won the first round of voting on May 31, has campaigned on a platform of tougher security measures and a stronger crackdown on drug trafficking and armed criminal groups.
Speaking to AFP in Bogotá, Cepeda acknowledged that adjustments to the peace strategy may be required after Petro’s efforts to negotiate with armed organizations failed to produce the expected results amid a surge in violence across the country.
“We are going to make the necessary changes, of course. We will conduct an assessment,” the 63-year-old senator said during the interview, held ten days before the decisive runoff vote.
Cepeda, a philosopher and longtime human rights advocate, explained that any modifications to the policy would emerge from a broad national dialogue involving political leaders, social organizations and other sectors of Colombian society. However, he did not provide specific details about the proposed changes.
President Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” initiative sought to negotiate agreements with guerrilla movements, paramilitary groups and major criminal organizations, including the powerful Clan del Golfo cartel and the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The policy aimed to reduce violence through dialogue and negotiated settlements, but critics argue that it failed to significantly weaken armed groups or improve security conditions in several regions of the country.
As the runoff campaign enters its final stage, the future direction of Colombia’s security and peace policies remains one of the most closely watched issues in the election.
International
U.S. Halts Military Action Against Iran Amid Diplomatic Breakthrough
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday the suspension of military strikes that had been scheduled against Iran later that evening, citing significant progress in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict that erupted in late February.
In a message posted on social media, Trump said the decision followed high-level discussions with Iranian representatives, which he claimed led to broad agreements on the key elements of a future peace deal.
According to the president, the “final points” of the proposed agreement have been approved in principle and outlined by the parties involved. Trump identified the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt as participants in the diplomatic process.
The U.S. leader also stated that the naval blockade imposed on Iran will remain in place while negotiations continue. He added that the date and location for the formal signing of the agreement will be announced in the coming days. No specific details regarding the content of the deal have been released so far.
The announcement marks a significant shift from comments made by Trump just hours earlier, when he warned of additional military strikes against Iranian territory and reiterated threats involving key oil infrastructure within the Islamic Republic.
The decision comes amid a renewed escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran. In recent days, both sides have exchanged military attacks while diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent a broader conflict in the Middle East.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard recently claimed responsibility for drone attacks targeting U.S. military facilities in several countries across the region. Iranian officials described the operations as retaliation for American strikes against Iranian targets.
Although Trump’s announcement has been viewed as a sign of de-escalation, questions remain regarding the viability of the proposed agreement and the long-term stability of the negotiations. International analysts warn that the situation remains fragile and that any new incident could quickly reignite hostilities between the two countries.
U.S. Authorities Accuse Guatemalan Nationals of Using False Information to Sponsor Migrant Minors
Iván Cepeda Open to Revising Colombia’s Peace Policy Ahead of Runoff Election
U.S. Halts Military Action Against Iran Amid Diplomatic Breakthrough
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International5 days agoICE to prioritize security over immigration enforcement during 2026 World Cup, says official
-
International2 days agoU.S. Launches Military Strikes on Iran Following Apache Helicopter Incident
-
Central America3 days agoBukele Tops Latin America’s Presidential Approval Ranking in June, Survey Finds
-
International3 days agoNGO Reports Release of 54 Political Prisoner Soldiers in Venezuela
-
International2 days agoMS-13 Member Sentenced to 35 Years for Fatal Subway Killing in New York
-
Central America3 days agoCivil Protection Urges Immediate Evacuations as Tropical Storm Cristina Brings Flooding Risks
-
Central America3 days agoCivil Protection Reports Dozens of Weather-Related Incidents Following Weekend Storms
-
International14 hours agoU.S. Halts Military Action Against Iran Amid Diplomatic Breakthrough
-
International14 hours agoIván Cepeda Open to Revising Colombia’s Peace Policy Ahead of Runoff Election
-
Central America14 hours agoU.S. Authorities Accuse Guatemalan Nationals of Using False Information to Sponsor Migrant Minors