US EditionColombia, Ecuador examining possible border violation during security operation
Colombia and Ecuador investigate after Ecuadorian security operation near the border reportedly killed 27 and involved an unexploded bomb later deactivated by Colombian teams.
- On March 18, 2026, Colombian and Ecuadorean authorities opened a joint inquiry after Colombian President Gustavo Petro alleged an explosive was dropped near the Colombia–Ecuador border.
- Ecuador launched a two-week operation on Sunday in four Pacific-coast provinces to beat back gang violence, and Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa said strikes target mostly Colombian narco-terrorism hideouts.
- Experts analysing the munition said it appears to be a 'freefall bomb', and bomb disposal teams successfully deactivated the device on Tuesday.
- Petro claimed there were 27 charred bodies, while Noboa denied the claims and raised duties on Colombian goods to 50% last month, heightening diplomatic tensions.
- About 70 percent of regional cocaine moves through Ecuador's Pacific ports along a 586km border where guerrilla groups and criminal organisations operate.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Colombia and Ecuador Agree to Form a Commission to Investigate the Discovery of a Bomb at the Border
Colombia and Ecuador have agreed this Wednesday to form a technical commission to investigate the discovery of a bomb in Colombian territory near the border with the neighboring country after the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, claimed that it belonged to the Ecuadorian Army. “By mutual agreement, the formation of a binational technical commission was coordinated to verify ‘in situ’ the reasons why the explosive appeared in Colombian territo…
By Fernando Ramos, CNN en Español. Diplomatic relations between Colombia and Ecuador are at their lowest point in nearly two decades. Such tension between the two countries has not been seen since "Operation Phoenix," in which Colombian authorities killed Raúl Reyes, a FARC guerrilla leader, on Ecuadorian territory on March 1, 2008.
Colombia minister says examining with Ecuador whether sovereignty was violated in border spat
BOGOTA, March 18 - Explosions in cocaine labs near the border with Ecuador killed 14 people in January, Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday, when asked to clarify accusations by Colombian President Gustavo Petro that actions by Ecuador had resulted in more than two dozen deaths in the area. Read more at straitstimes.com.
In a note published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil regretted the loss of human lives and asked for moderation to the parties involved. “In mourning the loss of human lives, the Brazilian Government urged the parties involved to moderate, with a view to seeking peaceful solutions to the dispute”, said the communiqué. In the same note, Itamarity signalled a provision to act diplomaticly and stated that it is available to support dialog…
The Minister of Defense of Colombia sleeps little. Very little. He gets up at 4.30 in the morning and his agenda is extended until late in the night. When Pedro Sánchez receives EL PAÍS in his office on Monday, some yawning escapes, but he is in a good mood. He laughs when he escapes the questions and jokes to get him well in the photos. “Pose casual”, invites him half in a joke, half seriously, his uniformed chief of press. He still has one mor…
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