Colombia accuses Ecuador of interfering in its presidential election after a gesture towards a right-wing candidate

On the eve of the Colombian presidential election, a heated diplomatic row erupted between Colombia and Ecuador. The Colombian Foreign Ministry accused the Ecuadorian government on Saturday of "deliberate interference" in the election following the announcement of an agreement between Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and a Colombian presidential candidate.

The controversy arose after Daniel Noboa announced that Ecuador would lift tariffs imposed on Colombia starting June 1st. According to the Ecuadorian president, this decision followed a conversation with right-wing independent candidate Abelardo De La Espriella, with whom he claims to have reached an agreement on several security issues.

In a message posted on social media, Noboa explained that he had obtained a commitment from his interlocutor to promote strengthened cooperation against narco-terrorism. The two men also reportedly discussed the extradition of Ecuadorian criminals present in Colombia.

The Colombian government reacted strongly, arguing that presenting this tariff decision as a gesture of goodwill was an attempt to influence the national political debate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the move as deceptive and announced it would rescind the measures adopted to mitigate the effects of the Ecuadorian tariffs.

This new tension is part of a broader trade dispute between the two neighboring countries. For several months, Ecuador has accused Colombia of not doing enough to combat drug trafficking along their 586-kilometer shared border, an accusation rejected by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

Sunday's presidential election promises to be particularly close. Abelardo De La Espriella will face, among others, Ivan Cepeda, a political ally of Gustavo Petro, as well as the conservative senator Paloma Valencia. In this tense atmosphere, the diplomatic incident with Ecuador risks further fueling last-minute debates before the vote.