Colombia

Petro’s Stormy Future

The Colombian leader will push for three key reforms in 2025, facing tensions with the Congress.

Colombia: A 2025 Snapshot

AQ tracks political and economic trends to watch and key indicators in 2025.

Tens of thousands descend on the Petronio Álvarez Festival’s main stage to see major acts and a four-category battle of the bands. They bounce for hours to the Pacific coast’s infectious rhythms, waving traditional kerchiefs in the air. The festival attracts fans of all ages and is growing rapidly.

Photo Essay: Afro-Colombian Music’s Global Party

Organizers call the five-day Petronio Álvarez Festival in Cali “the largest African diaspora cultural event in Latin America.”

Venezuelan nationals make deliveries for Rappi in Bogotá in this file photo.

Colombia’s First Unicorn Keeps Delivering

Rappi’s rise to a multi-billion-dollar company preparing for an IPO shows the potential for disruption in Latin America’s economies and job markets.

Colombia’s Risky Plan for Decentralization

A reform proposal has reopened a critical issue for the country, but Congress should be cautious not to derail the nation’s delicate fiscal balance.

At This Bogotá Brewery, Former Guerrillas Dish Out Craft Beer

La Trocha’s brews are a hit, but Colombia’s peace process still lags behind implementation, leaving an aftertaste of fear for the future.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro meets U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken in Bogotá in 2022.

It’s Time to Rethink U.S.-Colombia Relations

The old Plan Colombia formula no longer works. Policymakers should embrace a more holistic approach, writes a former U.S. diplomat.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts Colombian President Gustavo Petro in the White House in April 2023.

A Growing Rift in the U.S.-Colombia Relationship

Halfway through President Gustavo Petro’s term, divisions over critical issues have strained the alliance.

Colombia’s Petro Is Under Pressure to Deliver Halfway Through His Term

The president is pursuing signature reforms as time runs short and problems mount.

AQ Podcast | Gustavo Petro: The Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality

At the halfway point of his presidency, Petro is still trying to deliver on his vision for a more equal and secure Colombia, while also dealing with a difficult economic climate. What can we expect from his next two years in office?

Colombia’s Uncertainty Is Sinking Investment and More

Economic and political instability could spell trouble for growth. However, the government has a new chance to put the country back on track.

Petro’s Healthcare Move Reveals His New Governing Strategy

The Colombian president’s intervention into major private health insurers reflects growing frustration over obstacles to his reform agenda.

Petro’s Environmental Record Is Full of Contradictions

As this October’s COP16 summit approaches, is Colombia ready to set real commitments to protect biodiversity?

Demonstrators against Colombian President Gustavo Petro's reform proposals gather at a Feb. 2023 protest in Bogotá. Petro’s pension reform now tests the Colombian Senate.

Petro’s Pension Reform Tests Colombian Senate

Despite having a minority in the upper house, the ruling Pacto Histórico may get the toned-down proposal approved. The House of Representatives will be tougher.

In Colombia, Petro Faces Challenges on All Sides

The left-wing administration confronts mounting political setbacks, economic slowdown and unforced errors.