U.S. Relations With Colombia

More information about Colombia is available on the Colombia Country Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

U.S.-COLOMBIA RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Colombia on June 19,1822, following its independence from Spain.  Colombia is a middle-income country and one of the oldest democracies in Latin America.  The United States and Colombia share a commitment to promoting security, prosperity, and democratic governance in Colombia and across the Western Hemisphere.

Democracy Promotion

With the support of the United States, Colombia transformed itself over the past 25 years from a fragile state into a vibrant democracy with a growing market-oriented economy.  In 2016, the Government of Colombia signed a peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), ending more than half a century of conflict.  Since 2017, the United States has provided more than $1.5 billion in assistance to support peace accord implementation – by far the largest contribution of any international partner.  The United States strongly supports Colombia’s efforts to secure the just and lasting peace the Colombian people deserve, and to make the promise of security and economic opportunity a reality for all Colombians.  In October 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the United States would become the first international accompanier to the peace accord’s “Ethnic Chapter,” furthering U.S. commitment to Colombia’s peace process and ethnic inclusion.

Colombia remains a key U.S. partner in ongoing efforts to help democracy and economic prosperity return to Venezuela.  Colombian leadership is essential in coordinating regional support to ensure the Maduro regime lives up to its commitments to hold free and fair elections in 2024, as well as condemning Maduro’s misrule, including through the Organization of American States (OAS).  The U.S. government has committed more than $958 million to help Colombia address the Venezuelan crisis and support the estimated 3.2 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants that Colombia hosts.

Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation

The United States closely cooperates with Colombia to investigate, arrest, prosecute, and disrupt transnational criminal organizations and terrorist groups whose activities, especially narcotrafficking, are devastating to the citizens of both countries and regional partners.  Our efforts focus on strengthening rule of law and judicial institutions, including transitional justice; enhancing respect for human rights; boosting economic opportunities; developing and improving rural infrastructure; and confronting criminal activities, including narcotics production, illegal mining, and deforestation.  The United States strongly supports Colombia’s efforts to address the coca/cocaine problem, which focuses on integrating supply reduction with efforts to dismantle criminal organizational and financial infrastructure, stopping and reversing the damage of the narcotics trade on the environment, and improving state presence through good governance and rural security measures.

In January 2020, Colombia designated Hizballah a terrorist organization and committed to adopting the broader U.S. and E.U. terrorism sanctions list.  Additionally, Colombia and the United States concluded arrangements to facilitate the exchange of data on known or suspected terrorists.

U.S. Assistance to Colombia

The U.S. government supports Colombian peace efforts by working in conflict-affected rural areas of Colombia where violence, drug trafficking, limited state presence, and the absence of licit economic opportunities historically converge.  U.S. programs include support for Colombian government initiatives: implementation of land reforms; support and protection for vulnerable and underserved populations, migrant and refugee communities, including members of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, persons with disabilities, and human rights defenders; greater and more equitable educational opportunities; public and private investments; reintegration of ex-combatants; and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Colombia is an important trade partner for the United States, underscored by the landmark 2012 U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA), which supports environmentally and socially sound economic growth and employment opportunities in both countries.  The CTPA improves the investment environment and eliminates tariffs and other barriers to U.S. exports and reciprocal trade.  U.S. agriculture exports more than tripled under the CTPA since 2012.  Colombian agricultural exports to the United States also grew by more than $2.1 billion and provided market access for more than 100 Colombian agricultural products.

The United States is Colombia’s largest trade and investment partner with more than $39.3 billion in bilateral goods and services trade in 2022 with large investments in the mining and manufacturing sectors.  Colombia is also the United States’ third-largest trade partner in Latin America and U.S.-owned affiliates account for more than 90,000 jobs in Colombia.

Primary U.S. exports to Colombia include oil, corn, and electrical equipment and parts.  Primary U.S. imports from Colombia include crude oil, coffee, and cut flowers.

Approximately 450 U.S. businesses have investments in Colombia with a large share of U.S. direct investment concentrated in the mining and manufacturing sectors.  Numerous private sector actors partner with U.S. assistance programs, leveraging additional resources and helping ensure projects remain sustainable beyond the life of U.S. funding.

The United States and Colombia have signed agreements on trade; labor rights; environmental protection; asset sharing; control of chemicals; ship-boarding; renewable and clean energy; science and technology; and civil aviation.

Educational and Cultural Exchange

Our partnership includes collaboration on academic, cultural, and sports exchange programs, as well as social-inclusion initiatives that engage African-descendant populations, Indigenous groups, and LGBTQI+ communities.  Colombia is a strong supporter of bilingual education and academic mobility initiatives and the largest foreign government sponsor of the Fulbright program.  In 2019, the United States and Colombia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote two-way exchanges between Colombian higher education institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States.

The United States and Colombia enjoy robust cooperation on cultural heritage preservation, as formalized through a bilateral agreement on cultural property.  U.S. assistance helps protect and preserve several important cultural monuments in Colombia and supports the return of trafficked artifacts.

The U.S. government supports a network of nine binational centers in Colombia, with 29 branches across the country.  The binational centers provide a wide range of resources to the Colombian public, including high-quality English-language teaching and free cultural events and educational advising services.

Colombia’s Membership in International Organizations

As member states to the United Nations, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and other international fora, Colombia and the United States routinely cooperate to defend human rights and mitigate regional humanitarian crises.  In April 2020, Colombia joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development as the thirty-seventh member and third country member from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Bilateral Representation

Principal U.S. embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.

Colombia maintains an embassy in the United States at 1724 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202-387-8338).

More information about Colombia is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

CIA World Factbook Colombia Page 
U.S. Embassy
USAID Colombia Page 
History of U.S. Relations With Colombia
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Country Page 
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics 
U.S. Commercial Service 
Travel Information