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.
International
Trump orders immediate U.S. nuclear testing, ending 30-year moratorium
U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to begin “immediate” testing of the country’s nuclear arsenal could, if carried out, end the nuclear testing moratorium that the United States has maintained for over 30 years.
The announcement follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear maneuvers on October 22 from the Kremlin, which involved land, sea, and air exercises and the launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of up to 12,000 kilometers.
In 1992, the U.S. Senate approved a temporary suspension of nuclear tests in August, followed by the House of Representatives in September, initially for nine months, with the goal of ending all U.S. atomic testing by September 1996.
Although then-President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, and his successor Bill Clinton, a Democrat, threatened to veto the measure, the moratorium has remained in place ever since.
The decision came after the fall of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, and a political climate in which many U.S. leaders and a significant portion of public opinion believed that the country should lead global denuclearization efforts. Technological advances have also allowed the United States to verify the reliability of its nuclear arsenal without conducting atomic explosions.
From World War II until 1992, the United States conducted over a thousand nuclear tests. Until 1963, these tests were atmospheric, after which only underground tests were performed.
Although the U.S. has not conducted nuclear detonations since September 1992, it has carried out several dozen subcritical experiments. These do not trigger chain nuclear reactions or produce atomic yield but are designed to verify the safety and effectiveness of the nuclear arsenal and remain within the limits established by the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
International
Brazilian president defends coordinated anti-drug operations after deadly Rio raid
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended on Wednesday the integration of the country’s various police forces into an anti-drug strategy that avoids civilian casualties, commenting on Tuesday’s police operation in Rio de Janeiro that left 121 dead—the deadliest in Brazil’s history.
“We need coordinated efforts that strike at the backbone of drug trafficking without putting police, children, and innocent families at risk,” the progressive leader wrote on social media.
Lula, along with several of his ministers, emphasized that organized crime is not defeated through violent confrontations in the favelas, but by measures that decapitalize these groups and reduce their financial power.
“That was exactly what we did in August during the largest operation against organized crime in the country’s history, targeting the financial core of a major organization involved in drug trafficking, fuel adulteration, and money laundering,” he stated, referring to a recent operation against the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a major national criminal group.
Lula stressed that Brazil cannot allow organized crime to continue destroying families, oppressing citizens, and spreading drugs and violence across cities.
He added that, in a federal country like Brazil, where public security is the responsibility of regional governments, it is necessary to unify the country’s police forces.
The head of state affirmed that integrating regional and national police forces to combat organized crime will be possible with the approval of a public security bill that the government has submitted to Congress.
International
US Deputy Secretary criticizes Mexico’s call to end Cuba trade embargo at UN
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau reacted on Wednesday against Mexico’s request at the United Nations to lift the trade embargo on Cuba.
Landau expressed on X that he felt “sad” as a “friend of Mexico” after Mexico’s ambassador to the UN, Héctor Vasconcelos, reiterated solidarity with Cuba and stressed the “urgent need to end the trade embargo.”
“Let’s base ourselves on reality and not fantasies. There is no trade embargo on Cuba (…) Cuba freely receives goods and visitors from many countries,” Landau wrote.
The reaction from the State Department official came after the Mexican delegation urgently requested the removal of sanctions against Cuba at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where a majority of 165 countries voted in favor of ending the embargo imposed on the island since 1960.
Seven countries voted against the proposal, and twelve abstained. The United States, Israel, Argentina, Hungary, Paraguay, and Ukraine were among those opposing the measure, but the overwhelming support left the U.S. and its allies in the minority.
Trump orders immediate U.S. nuclear testing, ending 30-year moratorium
Brazilian president defends coordinated anti-drug operations after deadly Rio raid
US Deputy Secretary criticizes Mexico’s call to end Cuba trade embargo at UN
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
-
International2 days agoJamaica faces widespread destruction as hurricane Melissa hits the island
-
International4 days agoMexican journalist reporting on drug cartels killed in Durango
-
International4 days agoColombian president Gustavo Petro denies alleged ties to criminal networks
-
International4 days agoArgentina’s Milei secures strong victory and calls for dialogue after election surge
-
International2 days agoMelissa leaves path of destruction in Caribbean, 735,000 evacuated in Cuba
-
Central America2 days agoNew dismembered bodies found in San Juan river days after mass killing in Palencia
-
Central America4 days agoEl Salvador cracks down on narcotics: 24 tons confiscated in major anti-drug operation
-
Central America2 days agoFour guatemalan soldiers arrested for stealing weapons from Northern Air Command
-
International17 hours agoHurricane Melissa leaves Jamaican residents homeless as recovery efforts begin
-
Central America2 days agoArévalo accuses Porras and judge of undermining democracy in Guatemala
-
International4 days agoMaduro accuses U.S. of aggression over Caribbean military drills
-
International2 days ago
Argentina’s Milei opens dialogue with parties to push “Second-Generation Reforms”
-
Central America4 days agoEl Salvador’s FGR prosecutes 89,875 gang members under state of exception
-
International17 hours agoUS Deputy Secretary criticizes Mexico’s call to end Cuba trade embargo at UN
-
International17 hours agoTrump orders immediate U.S. nuclear testing, ending 30-year moratorium
-
International17 hours agoBrazilian president defends coordinated anti-drug operations after deadly Rio raid
-
International17 hours agoVenezuela warns citizens who call for invasion risk losing nationality
-
International17 hours agoMexico advances continental shelf claims at UN Commission in New York
-
International17 hours agoSimeón Pérez Marroquín, ‘El Viejo,’ detained for role in Miguel Uribe Turbay assassination plot