Colombia votes in presidential election that could redefine relations with US

The election is held after months of public recrimination between current left-wing President Gustavo Petro and his US counterpart Donald Trump. Colombia votes in presidential election that could redefine relations with US Inside the operation to destroy drug labs in the Colombian jungle 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. The election has polarised Colombia after months of tension with the US An election worker with a dark jacket arranges cardboard ballot boxes in a large hall Colombia is heading to the polls to choose a new president. The election is being held after months of public recrimination between current left-wing President Gustavo Petro and his US counterpart Donald Trump over a number of issues including drug trafficking and American intervention in the region. Petro cannot seek re-election and has thrown his support behind Iván Cepeda. Challenging him are centre-right candidates Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia. 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. Iván Cepeda has pledged to continue the policies of the current administration Iván Cepeda gestures with his hands as he sits on a beige-upholstered chair. He is wearing a grey jacket over a collarless white shirt. He has dark hair, a moustache and is wearing glasses. Behind him is a white-panneled wall. Voting begins at 08:00 local time (13:00 GMT) and will close at 16:00. None of the candidates in Sunday's poll appear likely to win an outright majority, with a run-off vote expected on 21 June. Polling suggests 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 or fallen apart and there has been renewed violence. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a recent report that armed conflict in Colombia last year had affected civilians the most in a decade. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a recent report that armed conflict in Colombia last year had affected civilians the most in a decade. De la Espriella and 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. 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. 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. Trump has accused Petro of not doing enough to prevent cocaine from his country winding up on America's streets. At one point, Trump even called him "a sick man who likes selling cocaine to the United States" and said "he could be next" for US military intervention. Petro has argued his government has seized the largest amount of drugs in history. But on his watch cocaine production has also soared to record highs, according to the United Nations' United Nations' World Drug Report 2025. Petro disputes the UN's method of counting. Petro has argued his government has seized the largest amount of drugs in history. But on his watch cocaine production has also soared to record highs, according to the United Nations' United Nations' . Petro disputes the UN's method of counting. The two presidents, however, appeared to have mended their relations at a White House meeting in February - after which Trump called his guest "terrific". at a White House meeting in February - after which Trump called his guest "terrific". Watch: Orla Guerin joins Colombian commandos on a mission to find cocaine labs in the jungle Split screen showing a commando and drug lab on fire, and correspondent Orla Guerin wearing safety press vest Gustavo Petro wearing a dark blazer and blue shirt sits indoors Colombia sees 'real threat' of US military action, president tells BBC Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro in the Oval Office on 3 February 2026 Trump hails White House talks with 'terrific' Petro, after months of trading barbs 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 Ecuadorian leader Daniel Noboa offers to cancel tariffs after speaking to a right-wing presidential candidate ahead of Sunday's vote. 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. 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. Journalists are now able to upload their work to a website so that if anything were to happen to them, their work could still be published.