'India Values Its Close Friendship': PM Modi Congratulates Trump-Backed Colombia President-Elect

Published 26 June 2026 · local

'India Values Its Close Friendship': PM Modi Congratulates Trump-Backed Colombia President-Elect Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 22:59 IST PM Modi extended best wishes

'India Values Its Close Friendship': PM Modi Congratulates Trump-Backed Colombia President-Elect Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 22:59 IST PM Modi extended best wishes to Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella and said he looked forward to working together with him to deepen bilateral ties. Rapid Read PM Modi and Colombia President-Elect Ablardo de la Espriella. (Reuters File Image) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his congratulations to Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, after the latter won the recent election by less than a percentage point, banking on the support of US President Donald Trump. De la Espriella won the Colombian presidential runoff on Sunday, defeating the left-wing government led by President Gustavo Petro. He will be sworn in as President in August and has vowed to rebuild ties with the US and Israel. “Heartiest congratulations, Abelardo de la Espriella, on your victory in the Colombian presidential elections," said Prime Minister Modi on X.

Heartiest congratulations, Abelardo de la Espriella, on your victory in the Colombian presidential elections.India values its close friendship with Colombia which continues to grow in all areas. I convey my best wishes for a successful tenure and look forward to working… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2026 “India values its close friendship with Colombia which continues to grow in all areas. I convey my best wishes for a successful tenure and look forward to working together to further deepen our bilateral relations in the years ahead," he added. India-Colombia Relations India and Colombia have enjoyed friendly and cordial relations for decades, since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1959. Colombia opened its Embassy in New Delhi in 1972, followed by India establishing its Embassy in Colombia in 1973. Both sides have conducted high-level visits at several multilateral platforms. India and Colombia share a robust partnership in trade, investment, culture, education, IT, defence and energy.

In 2023-24, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $4.31 billion. Colombia is one of India’s key partners in Latin America, while India is among Colombia’s important trading partners in Asia. Colombia Presidential Race Abelardo De la Espriella clinched a narrow victory in Sunday’s presidential election as voters bet on his Trump-endorsed promise of a crackdown on crime and a stronger economy. De la Espriella has blamed Petro for the country’s economic and security troubles and vowed to crack down on rebels and criminal groups. He also promised to strengthen the country’s ties to the United States and Israel after Bogota’s ties with Tel Aviv nosedived under Petro’s government due to the war in Gaza. “Colombia will restore and strengthen its relationship with the State of Israel like never before," he said. Colombia joined Argentina, Bolivia, Chile,, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Honduras in Latin America to shift right-ward after Trump returned to the White House last year.