Ecuador accused of meddling in Colombian election with tariff vow

Ecuadorian leader Daniel Noboa offers to cancel tariffs after speaking to a right-wing presidential candidate ahead of Sunday's vote. Ecuador accused of meddling in Colombian election with tariff vow Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa was accused of "meddling" in Colombia's poll Daniel Noboa delivers a speech during a military ceremony, while wearing a suit and sash Colombia's foreign ministry has accused Ecuador's president of "deliberate interference" in its forthcoming election after he promised a right-wing candidate he would lift tariffs. Daniel Noboa framed his conversation with Colombian presidential hopeful Abelardo de la Espriella on Friday as one with an administration-in-waiting, saying the two had "reached an agreement" on trade and security. Colombia heads to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president, in an atmosphere of intense political polarisation. The outcome of the election could redefine which countries the Latin American nation aligns itself with, and how the government intends to tackle drug gangs amid spiralling violence. Left-wing President Gustavo Petro, who is unable to seek re-election, has repeatedly sparred with US counterpart Donald Trump over a number of issues including drug trafficking and American intervention in the region. Noboa, a staunch ally of the US president, has taken a hard line on drug-related violence and has joined a US-led alliance aimed at fighting cartels. He wrote that he had decided to drop Ecuador's tariffs on Colombian products as of 1 June following his conversation with de la Espriella, and said the two had "agreed on the handover of Ecuadorian criminals who are in Colombian territory". Ecuador has gradually imposed tariffs on imports from Colombia since January, citing what it described as Colombia's failure to secure their shared border. Its geographical location - sandwiched between Colombia and Peru, the world's largest producers of cocaine - has turned Ecuador into a key transit country for the illicit drug. Petro's government has denied the accusation and responded with economic measures of its own. Two people in a motorcycle helmet and white hat look on while surverying the scene which includes two upside down vehicles in front of a bus parked on the side of the road. Death toll in Colombia highway bus bomb attack rises to 20 Commandos land on a cocoa farm in Colombia. They are wearing military-looking uniforms with helmets, and disembarking from a helicopter. BBC joins Colombian commandos fighting 'never-ending battle' against drug gangs Colombia's foreign ministry criticised "the misleading presentation of the decision to repeal the tariffs as a goodwill measure by the Ecuadorian leader" in a statement on Saturday. "This meddling by a foreign leader in the democratic process of another state constitutes a flagrant violation of the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs, a threat to national sovereignty and an attack on the democratic system," it added. Colombia's political culture had for decades often favoured the election of centrist technocrats to the presidency. But its politics has become increasingly polarised, with Petro becoming Colombia's first left-wing president in its recent history. None of the candidates in Sunday's poll appear likely to win an outright majority, with a run-off vote scheduled for 21 June. Polling suggests Petro's choice of successor, Iván Cepeda, has the greatest support, with de la Espriella his next-closest rival. Cepeda has promised to continue with the Petro administration's policy of "total peace", which sought negotiated settlements with armed insurgent groups that engage in drug trafficking - though talks have stalled and agreements broken with renewed violence. De la Espriella and centre-right candidate Paloma Valencia have vowed to launch a military crackdown if elected. Right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella appeared behind bulletproof glass at a rally last week Abelardo de la Espriella speaks behind bulletproof glass during a campaign rally in Medellin. He wears a Colombia football shirt and striped hat. This is something Noboa has tried in Ecuador - deploying 75,000 police officers to the nation's four most violence-wracked provinces in March - though his prior attempts have seen the country's murder rate skyrocket. This is something Noboa has tried in Ecuador - deploying 75,000 police officers to the nation's four most violence-wracked provinces in March - though his prior attempts have seen the country's murder rate skyrocket. Colombia's presidential hopefuls have campaigned amid persistent political violence, with one candidate fatally shot last summer. Last week, de la Espriella appeared at a rally in Medellin behind bulletproof glass. Colombia's presidential hopefuls have campaigned amid persistent political violence, with one . Last week, de la Espriella appeared at a rally in Medellin behind bulletproof glass. He and Valencia have expressed a desire to restore Colombia's close security alliance with the US, which has come under strain under Petro and Trump. Cepeda has insisted, just as Petro did, that Colombia should not be a "vassal state" to the US - though observers have noted that the two nations' historic anti-drugs co-operation has continued during even the most heated disputes. The capture by US forces of Venezuela's former President Nicolás Maduro in January has left Petro one of the region's few remaining left-wing leaders not ideologically aligned with the Trump administration. Both Trump and Petro have indicated that they thought a US military intervention in Colombia was possible, after the US president revived the Monroe Doctrine, that the US should be the sole arbiter when it came to the Western hemisphere. have indicated that they thought a US military intervention in Colombia was possible , after the US president revived the Monroe Doctrine, that the US should be the sole arbiter when it came to the Western hemisphere. However, Trump has since turned his attention to Cuba and has openly discussed toppling the Communist regime there, which he has described as "ready to fall". US President Donald Trump has his mouth open in a close up shot. His eyebrows are raised and he is wearing a blue suit jacket. Trump is putting pressure on Cuba - why and to what end? Gustavo Petro wearing a dark blazer and blue shirt sits indoors Colombia sees 'real threat' of US military action, president tells BBC Police officers are seen at Lewes Street in Brighton wearing gas masks and protective clothing. Police say the operation targeted the network of notorious late Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro. North East Lincolnshire Council says drugs including cocaine could be part of a contaminated batch. The United Arab Emirates has denied any involvement in the civil war and says it investigates alleged links. Captain James Rodriguez has been named in Colombia's World Cup squad after illness, with Luis Diaz also confirmed in the 26-player group. The explosion is the latest accident in the locality of Sutatausa, the site of another deadly mine disaster in 2023. At least 38 people were injured when the vehicle ploughed into the crowd at a show in Colombia. 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