SECRET Orders: US RECALLS Key Diplomat

The U.S. has taken a bold step by recalling Chargé d’Affaires John McNamara from Colombia, a move that highlights escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

At a Glance

  • The U.S. and Colombia have both recalled their top diplomats amid a rapidly escalating diplomatic dispute.
  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recalled Chargé d’Affaires John McNamara from Bogotá, citing “baseless and reprehensible statements” from the Colombian government.
  • Colombian President Gustavo Petro responded by recalling his ambassador from Washington, D.C.
  • The spat comes as President Petro faces a major political crisis at home, including accusations of a coup plot from his own former foreign minister.

A Diplomatic Firestorm

Relations between the United States and Colombia have deteriorated rapidly, with both nations recalling their top envoys for “urgent consultations.” The diplomatic firestorm was ignited on Thursday, July 3, 2025, when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he was recalling the acting ambassador in Bogotá, John McNamara.

In a sharply worded statement, Rubio said the recall was a direct result of “baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia.” In a swift, tit-for-tat response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced he was recalling his ambassador, Daniel Garcia-Peña, from Washington.

A President Under Pressure at Home

The international dispute comes as Colombia’s leftist president, Gustavo Petro, is embroiled in a severe political crisis at home. His own former foreign minister, Alvaro Leyva, has publicly accused Petro of being “enslaved by drugs” and plotting a coup and has called for his resignation.

President Petro has vehemently denied the allegations. He has claimed to have a direct line of communication with U.S. President Donald Trump but acknowledged a “turbulent” relationship due to disagreements over migration and climate change.

The U.S. Response

The Trump administration and its allies in Congress are showing little patience for the Colombian leader. As reported by Reuters, the U.S. State Department has warned that it is “pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship.”

Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez of Florida was even more blunt. “Petro cannot continue to threaten America and then think he can get away with it,” he said in a statement. The escalating war of words is threatening a long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries on issues of security and counter-narcotics.

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