Colombian delegation travels to Ecuador to negotiate crisis

In a desperate attempt to stop the escalation of tensions that has put the border economy in check, a high-level delegation from the Colombian Government landed in Quito on February 6.

The mission, sent by direct instruction of President Gustavo Petro, seeks to reach urgent understandings with the administration of Daniel Noboa, after both countries became involved in a “tariff war” that already affects the flow of energy, oil and goods.

Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and the Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez, lead this team that arrives with the difficult task of unblocking the bilateral conflict.

The crisis reached its peak on February 1, when Ecuador imposed a 30% tax on Colombian products, alleging lack of cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.

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Colombia responded with mirror measures and the suspension of the sale of electrical energy, a significant blow for the Ecuadorian energy system that depends 10% on the national supply. For this reason, the delegation now seeks to agree on understandings that will allow commercial and energy exchanges to be reactivated, preventing the cost of living on the border from continuing to increase due to mutual taxes.

In addition to the economic front, security is the cornerstone of the meeting. The Colombian ministers, accompanied by executives from Ecopetrol and the Mines and Justice portfolios, bring an offer of reinforced cooperation for the control of transnational organized crime in the 586 kilometers of common border.