Colombia accuses Ecuador of election interference in proxy battle over regional alignment

Colombia's foreign ministry formally accused Ecuador of "deliberate interference" in its presidential election on May 30, 2026. The charge reflects a widening rift between neighbors: Ecuador under Daniel Noboa has aligned with the U.S. on Venezuela policy and border security, while President Gustavo Petro has criticized Washington's approach to Caracas. The accusation signals a broader contest over which political model—leftist sovereignty or pro-U.S. security alignment—will prevail in northern South America.