Relationship dossier
Colombia
Russia
Relationship assessment
Diplomatic and commercial ties coexist with espionage-related expulsions and disagreement over Ukraine.
Colombia toward Russia
-20Colombia voted in the United Nations to condemn Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has declined to send weapons to Ukraine. In 2020, Colombia expelled two Russian diplomats over alleged espionage, prompting a Russian response.
Russia toward Colombia
-15Russia responded to Colombia’s 2020 expulsion of two Russian diplomats by expelling two Colombian diplomats. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also been a source of disagreement with Colombia’s stated position at the United Nations.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship combines continuing diplomatic and commercial ties with a consequential diplomatic-security dispute and divergence over Russia’s war against Ukraine. These features point to a mixed relationship rather than a close strategic partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Colombia and Russia maintain diplomatic and commercial relations, but their relationship has included a serious diplomatic dispute and differing positions over Russia’s war against Ukraine. Colombia condemned the invasion in the United Nations while declining to provide weapons to Ukraine. The relationship appears mixed, with limited evidence of sustained, high-level bilateral cooperation.
Areas of tension
- The 2020 mutual expulsions of diplomats amid espionage allegations.
- Colombia’s condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and related positions at the United Nations.
Key developments
Colombia expelled two Russian diplomats over alleged espionage; Russia responded by expelling two Colombian diplomats.
Colombia voted for a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and continuity of bilateral commercial and security cooperation are unclear.
- The extent of practical bilateral engagement since the 2020 diplomatic expulsions is uncertain.