Bogotá, Colombia – The polls have closed, and the whispers are getting louder. A pro-US candidate is on the brink of victory, and the fallout will be seismic. Not just for Colombia. For the whole region. And for a little trade deal the UK has been quietly nursing.
Let's cut through the spin. This isn't just another Latin American election. This is a realignment. The favourite, a conservative businessman with Star-Spangled Banner ties, has promised to tear up the previous government's socialist playbook. He wants to open up oil fields. He wants to court American investment. He wants to kickstart a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
That last bit is key. Whitehall has been desperate for a win. Post-Brexit Britain is hunting for trade deals like a dog after a bone. And Colombia, with its growing economy and strategic location, is a juicy one. The deal has been stalled for months. Too much red tape. Too much political chaos. But this new guy? He's ambitious. He's pro-market. He might just push it through.
But here's the rub. It's not just about trade. This is about influence. The US has been losing ground in Latin America. China is everywhere. Buying ports. Buying loyalty. A pro-US Colombia could be a bulwark. A counterweight. And the UK, as Washington's closest ally, could ride on those coattails.
Of course, there are risks. The opposition is crying foul. Allegations of vote rigging are flying. And even if he wins, he'll face a hostile Congress. Nothing comes easy in Bogotá. But the momentum is real. The betting markets have flipped. The smart money is on a victory.
Downing Street is watching. Quietly. But closely. A source tells me the trade secretary has already pencilled in a call for tomorrow morning. If the result holds, expect a flurry of activity. Expect announcements. Expect a deal to be fast-tracked.
This is a big moment. A changing of the guard. And the UK is positioning itself to be right there. At the table. Hand outstretched. It's the game of nations. And Colombia just became the board.
