The diplomatic crisis between Colombia and Bolivia escalated this Wednesday to one of its most delicate moments in years, after the government of Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of the Bolivian ambassador in Bogota, Ariel Percy Molina, in a measure of “reciprocity” following the decision adopted a day earlier by La Paz against the Colombian representative, Elizabeth Garcia.
The new clash between the two countries highlights the rapid deterioration of a relationship that until just a few months ago appeared stable within the Latin American political landscape, following the controversial remarks made by the Colombian president regarding the social crisis unfolding in Bolivia.
The Colombian decision was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a brief statement in which Bogotá insisted that it has not intervened in Bolivia’s internal affairs and defended President Petro’s statements about the Bolivian political situation.
From La Paz, the government of President Rodrigo Paz maintains exactly the opposite: it accuses the Colombian leader of promoting interventionist rhetoric amid the protests and deep polarization affecting the Andean country.
Colombia-Bolivia crisis: Bogota orders ambassador expelled
The Colombian government’s decision came just hours after Bolivia declared the Colombian ambassador persona non grata and invited her to leave the country. Rodrigo Paz’s administration argued that Petro’s repeated statements about the Bolivian crisis constituted an unacceptable interference in internal affairs.
The Colombian president had posted messages and comments on social media regarding the demonstrations that have shaken Bolivia since early May. Petro described part of the protests as a “popular uprising” and even expressed his willingness to mediate in the political and social conflict.
That position — which is not new in relation to other conflicts in third countries on the part of Colombia’s president — was interpreted by the Bolivian government as indirect support for opposition sectors and groups linked to former president Evo Morales.
La Paz’s reaction was immediate. Rodrigo Paz’s government announced the expulsion of the Colombian ambassador and publicly denounced that Bogotá was crossing the limits of diplomacy. Hours later, Colombia responded with the expulsion of the Bolivian ambassador in Bogotá, leaving both countries without top-level diplomatic representatives.
Although neither foreign ministry officially speaks of a rupture in relations, the exchange of expulsions marks the most critical point in bilateral ties since Rodrigo Paz came to power in Bolivia in November of last year.
Comunicado de prensa del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Colombia, considerando la reciente decisión adoptada por el Gobierno del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia. pic.twitter.com/wlR67p88Wt
— Cancillería Colombia (@CancilleriaCol) May 21, 2026
The origin of the tension between Petro and Rodrigo Paz
The crisis has deep political and ideological roots. Rodrigo Paz came to the Bolivian presidency with a center-right project aimed at dismantling much of the political legacy of the Movement for Socialism (MAS), the force that governed Bolivia for nearly two decades under the leadership of Evo Morales and Luis Arce.
From the beginning of his term, Paz promoted a diplomatic and economic shift that included restoring close relations with the United States and Israel, as well as creating strong distance from leftist governments in the region.
That regional repositioning quickly clashed with the vision of Gustavo Petro, one of the leading figures of the Latin American left. The differences became more visible when Bolivia began facing massive protests over the economic situation, inflation, fuel shortages, and the reforms promoted by the new government.
While Paz’s administration denounced attempts at “destabilization” and blamed sectors close to Evo Morales for promoting road blockades and mobilizations, Petro expressed concern about Bolivia’s political direction and criticized what he described as a drift toward “extremism.”
The Colombian president’s statements generated growing discomfort in La Paz, which eventually openly accused him of intervening in Bolivia’s domestic politics.
An increasingly fragile regional relationship
The crisis also reflects Latin America’s new political map and the tensions between leftist governments and conservative administrations that have gained ground in several countries across the region, in an escalation of polarization that appears far from ending.
Rodrigo Paz has strengthened ties with leaders such as Argentine President Javier Milei and reinforced his rapprochement with Washington, while Petro maintains political alliances with progressive governments and sectors linked to the former Bolivarian bloc.
Amid this scenario, Bolivia is going through one of its most unstable periods since the MAS left power. The protests, road blockades, and accusations of an attempted coup have increased international pressure on the Bolivian government.
The United States and other international actors have expressed concern over the deterioration of the situation, while regional organizations have called for a negotiated solution.
Despite the diplomatic clash, both Bogota and La Paz have avoided announcing a formal rupture in relations. However, the exchange of expulsions opens a period of high political tension between two governments that represent opposing ideological projects and that today appear increasingly far from any possibility of immediate understanding.