BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Diplomatic tensions have escalated between Colombia and Ecuador following allegations that Ecuadorian military operations near their shared border spilled into Colombian territory.
The dispute pits Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro against his Ecuadorian counterpart Daniel Noboa, with both leaders exchanging sharp public statements over the incident.
Petro claimed that an explosive device—believed to be a free-fall bomb—was dropped from an aircraft near the border and landed inside Colombian territory, just 100 metres from a civilian home. He shared images of what he described as an unexploded bomb and called for an urgent investigation.
“It fell 100 metres from the home of a poor family,” Petro said, warning of the risks posed to civilians. Colombian military officials later confirmed that bomb disposal teams had safely deactivated the device.
Residents in the area backed the claims, with local farmer Julian Imbacuan describing widespread fear. “We were all terrified… worried that those devices might suddenly explode and take our lives,” he said.
Colombia’s Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez urged residents to stay away from the affected zone as troops were deployed to secure the area.
Ecuador, however, firmly denied crossing into Colombian territory. Noboa said his country’s forces were conducting targeted air operations against criminal groups operating within Ecuador’s borders.
“President Petro, your statements are false. We are operating within our own territory, not yours,” Noboa said, accusing Colombia of failing to control armed groups along the frontier.
The border region, spanning about 586 kilometres, has long been a hotspot for criminal activity, including drug trafficking, illegal mining, and arms smuggling. Armed groups from both countries operate in the area, complicating security coordination.
Petro further escalated the rhetoric by referencing “27 charred bodies,” though details surrounding the claim remain unclear. Colombian authorities have not confirmed the figure.
The row echoes past tensions, notably the 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis, when Colombia carried out a cross-border strike targeting a FARC commander, triggering a regional diplomatic fallout.
The current dispute also unfolds against shifting geopolitical alignments. Ecuador has intensified anti-drug operations with support from the United States and recently joined a 17-nation anti-narcotics coalition, the “Shield of the Americas,” backed by US President Donald Trump.
Colombia, however, was excluded from the initiative, drawing criticism from Petro, who has advocated for broader regional cooperation in combating transnational crime.
With an estimated 70pc of cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru transiting through Ecuador’s Pacific ports, cross-border collaboration remains central to tackling organised crime in the region.
