Colombia adjusts strategy toward Democratic-led US Congress after midterm losses

The Democratic Party won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the US midterm elections held on November 4, 2026. The result was seen as a rebuke to President Donald Trump, who had supported Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella in a runoff and sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Barranquilla a month after his inauguration.

De la Espriella, who holds US citizenship, has openly favored Republicans, especially Florida congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, whom he called Colombia’s best friend in the US Congress. Salazar won reelection by only 1,325 votes, though US media had not yet declared her the winner.

“I am with my friend María Elvira Salazar because she has always been with Colombia.”

Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, complained about the episode involving Salazar. De la Espriella called him to smooth things over, and Meeks later told El Espectador that the Colombian president gave him assurances.

Colombia’s government is now reorienting its strategy to repair relations with the new Democratic majorities. Foreign Minister Omar Bula, President De la Espriella, and Ambassador María Consuelo Araújo are mapping out a new roadmap for ties with the US Capitol.

Araújo has focused her agenda over the past two months on strengthening alliances with the US government and major companies such as Coca Cola and Pricesmart. Since Democratic victory projections emerged about three weeks ago, she has begun reaching out to Democratic figures who have previously served as bridges for dialogue.

The stakes include substantial budget allocations promised by the White House for security, development, and counternarcotics efforts. The government says it already has the White House’s approval, while Araújo works to secure the legislative portion coming directly from Washington.