Colombia–Mexico relations

Colombian–Mexican relations are the historical and current bilateral relations between the Republic of Colombia and the United Mexican States. Both nations are members of the Association of Caribbean States, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Latin American Integration Association, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States, Pacific Alliance and the United Nations.

Colombian-Mexican relations
Map indicating locations of Colombia and Mexico

Colombia
Mexico

History

Both nations are host to great indigenous cultures; the Aztecs and Mayas in Mexico and the Muiscas and Incas in Colombia. Colombia and Mexico both share a common history in that they were both colonized by Spain and each nation was the seat of power of one of four Spanish viceroyalties. Soon after gaining independence in the 1820s, the newly independent Mexican Empire and Gran Colombia once bordered each other in what are now the independent nations of Costa Rica and Panama. First contact between both nations took place on 3 October 1823, however, diplomatic relations were officially established on 10 July 1831.[1]

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both nations have become increasingly close politically and bilaterally. In 1989, both nations, along with Venezuela formed a trade bloc called the Group of 3 (Grupo de los Tres) which intended to reduce trade tariffs and create a free trade bloc between the three nations within a ten-year time span that took effect in 1995. However, in 2006, former President Hugo Chávez announced that Venezuela would be leaving the bloc due to his estranged relationship with former Mexican President Vicente Fox and former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe. The trade bloc continued without Venezuela until 2007.[2]

Over the past few years, both nations have become increasingly tangled in the war on drugs. Colombia has for many years been known as one of the biggest producers of drugs and for having notorious cartels. Mexico was traditionally a transit country for Colombia drugs to pass through en route to the United States (the largest demand market for drug consumption). However, Mexico has also become increasingly involved in drug production itself and many Mexican drug cartels have increasingly partnered with Colombian cartels in transiting drugs to other markets globally. Both the Colombian and Mexican government have increasingly worked together to combat the cartels and have hired advisers from each other nations to practice successful tactics in each other's nations respectively.[3]

Colombia and Mexico are two of the four founding members of the Pacific Alliance (the others being Chile and Peru). From 2017 to 2018, both nations celebrated a "Dual Year" in order to promote greater rapprochement among both nations, strengthen ties through activities in the areas of culture, education and academic mobility, trade and investment, entrepreneurship and innovation, among others, which were celebrated throughout two years.[4]

In July 2021, Colombian Vice-President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez, paid a visit to Mexico and met with her counterpart Marcelo Ebrard to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening both nations' joint bilateral relations mechanisms.[5] In November 2022, Colombian President Gustavo Petro paid a visit to Mexico and met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. During the visit, Mexico was asked to and accepted the invitation to become a guarantor country in negotiations between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN).[6]

In September 2023, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador paid a visit to Cali, Colombia to attend a Latin-American and Caribbean Conference on drugs. While in Colombia, Presidente López Obrador met with Colombian President Gustavo Petro and the two leaders discussed the ongoing peace process in Colombia.[7]

High-level visits
Presidents Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Gustavo Petro in Cali, Colombia; September 2023.

Presidential visits from Colombia to Mexico

Presidential visits from Mexico to Colombia

Bilateral agreements
Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center in Bogotá

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as a Free Trade Agreement; Agreement of Cooperation in Matter of Legal assistance; Extradition Treaty; Arbitration Treaty; Air Transportation Agreement; Agreement for Cultural and Educational Exchanges; Agreement in Scientific and Technical Cooperation; Agreement of Cooperation in the Fight against Illicit Trafficking Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances; Agreement for the Exchange of Non-Judicialized Information; Agreement for Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Studies, Titles and Academic Degrees of Higher Education; Tourist Cooperation Agreement; Agreement to Avoid Double Taxation and to Prevent Tax Evasion in Relation to Taxes on Income and on Equity and an Agreement to Prohibit and Prevent Theft and/or Theft, Introduction, Extraction and Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property.[4]

Transportation and Tourism

In 2017, close to half a million Colombian citizens visited Mexico for Tourism.[4] There are direct flights between Colombia and Mexico with the following airlines: Aeroméxico, Avianca and Wingo.

Trade relations

Trade between the two nations has increased dramatically over the past ten years. Since 2001, two-way trade between Colombia and Mexico increased by 382%. In 2018, trade between the two nations totaled US$5 billion.[8] Colombia's main exports to Mexico include: coal, crude oil, instant coffee and automobile parts. Mexico's main exports to Colombia include: flat screen TVs, pure petroleum oil for tank-car, ship-tank or auto-tanks; corrugated rods or bars for reinforcement, for cement or concrete; shampoos; milk powder or pills; tequila and malt beer.[4]

Colombia is Mexico's ninth largest trading partner globally.[4] Between 2000 and 2017, Mexican companies invested over US$4.4 billion.[4] Colombian multinational companies such as Grupo Nutresa and Rappi operate in Mexico. Mexican multinational companies such as América Móvil, Grupo Alsea, Grupo Bimbo, Cemex, Mexichem and Mabe (among others) operate in Colombia.[4]

Resident diplomatic missions
  • Embassy of Colombia in Mexico City
    Embassy of Colombia in Mexico City
  • Embassy of Mexico in Bogotá
    Embassy of Mexico in Bogotá

See also

References
  1. Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on relations with Mexico (in Spanish)
  2. El País:Chávez confirma la retirada del G3, que integra con México y Colombia (in Spanish)
  3. Oscar Naranjo, Legendary Colombia Police Chief, Heads To Mexico As Advisor On Fighting Drug Trafficking
  4. Acuerdos entre México y Colombia (in Spanish)
  5. Colombia y México fortalecen su relacionamiento bilateral (in Spanish)
  6. Petro y López Obrador convocan al resto de presidentes a replantear la política contra las drogas (in Spanish)
  7. AMLO llega a Cali, Colombia a conferencia Latinoamericana y del Caribe sobre drogas (in Spanish)
  8. "Mexican Ministry of the Economy: Colombia (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2019-07-28. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  9. Embassy of Colombia in Mexico City (in Spanish only)
  10. Embassy of Mexico in Bogotá (in Spanish only)
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