UPDATE - US recalls top diplomat from Colombia

ADDS STATEMENT FROM COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US recalled its top diplomat in Colombia for urgent consultations Thursday amid escalating tensions with Bogota.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio has recalled John T. McNamara, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, to Washington for urgent consultations following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement, without specifying the reason.

Bruce said the US is considering measures to convey its "deep concern over the current state" of ties with Colombia.

“Despite policy differences with the current government, Colombia remains an essential strategic partner,” it said, noting cooperation on regional security and shared priorities.

In response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the recall of the country’s ambassador to the US.

In a post on X, Petro said Ambassador Daniel Garcia-Pena was recalled to brief the government on the progress of Colombia’s bilateral agenda with the US, which includes cooperation on energy transition, drug trafficking and regional peace initiatives.

"Today, (drug trafficking) unites Albanian, Italian, Mexican, Colombian and Southern Cone mafias,” he warned, referring to what he called the “Narcotrafficking Board,” allegedly headquartered in Dubai.

He also called for “an immigration treaty recognizing the United States’ right to accept or refuse visitors, on the basis of human dignity,” and urged US cooperation on global financial reform enabling “debt-for-climate-action swaps of up to 25 trillion dollars.”