Colombia says it will maintain and strengthen cooperation with Brazil despite political differences between President Abelardo de la Espriella and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. (Foto: Instagram)
Colombia’s government said Tuesday, Nov. 10, that it intends to maintain and strengthen cooperation with Brazil despite political and ideological differences between Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was reelected. Colombia’s Foreign Ministry said the two countries share strategic interests and challenges that support continuing their partnership.
The ministry described Brazil as a “sister nation” and said Colombia wants to work with the Brazilian government on combating narcoterrorism and illegal mining, protecting the Amazon, and improving the well-being of people in both countries. The ministry said de la Espriella had acknowledged the deep political and ideological differences with Lula while emphasizing that the countries share significant challenges and opportunities.
Colombia’s government said it wants bilateral relations to rest on mutual respect and cooperation. The ministry reaffirmed its intention to deepen ties with the Federative Republic of Brazil on those terms, saying the partnership should continue despite political disagreements between the two leaders.
The statement followed de la Espriella’s public endorsement of Flávio Bolsonaro during Brazil’s presidential campaign. After the results of the runoff were determined on Sunday, Oct. 25, de la Espriella recognized Lula’s victory in a social media post. He contrasted the two leaders’ preferences in their respective countries: Lula had backed Iván Cepeda in Colombia’s presidential race, which de la Espriella won, while de la Espriella supported Bolsonaro in Brazil, where Lula prevailed. “In Colombia’s presidential campaign, President Lula openly backed Iván Cepeda, and I won. In Brazil’s campaign, I backed Bolsonaro, and Lula won,” de la Espriella wrote.
Despite the opposing endorsements, de la Espriella said the will of voters should be respected regardless of the leaders’ political preferences. He also called for preserving relations between Colombia and Brazil, with attention to shared security challenges and environmental protection. The foreign ministry had made a similar point after the first round of Brazil’s election, saying cooperation mechanisms on security and justice were not dependent on political circumstances. It said the relationship serves lasting interests of both countries and extends beyond shifts in the political climate.
