Donald Trump wants a fresh start with Colombia. That much is clear from his recent overtures to President Gustavo Petro. But for Westminster, the real prize is what this means for Britain's post-Brexit trade ambitions in Latin America.
Whitehall sources tell me the Foreign Office is watching closely. The UK has historic ties with Colombia. Trade is worth £1.2 billion a year. But it could be more. Much more.
Trump's move is a gamble. He needs allies in a region increasingly hostile to Washington. Petro is a leftist. He has clashed with the US before. But a détente opens doors. And for Britain, those doors are suddenly easier to push open.
Here is the inside game. The UK is already negotiating a free trade agreement with Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. It is part of the Pacific Alliance play. But progress has been glacial. Now, with Trump leaning in, officials in London believe Petro will be more open to deals. They see a window.
'Colombia wants to diversify away from US dependence,' a senior FCDO official told me last night. 'We are a natural partner. Historic links. Same language of business. The Trump factor could accelerate that.'
But there are risks. Trump's unpredictability is a known quantity. He could flip. He could demand concessions from Colombia that poison the well. And Petro is no pushover. He has his own political problems at home.
Yet the potential is real. The UK exports machinery, chemicals, and financial services to Colombia. Imports are coffee, flowers, gold, and oil. There is appetite for more British education and infrastructure expertise.
Critics will say this is wishful thinking. Labour's Hilary Benn told me last week that the government is 'over-egging the Latin America pudding.' But the numbers don't lie. UK trade with Latin America is up 10% since 2020. The Pacific Alliance alone is a market of 230 million people.
And here is the bit that gets the Lobby buzzing. If the UK can secure a comprehensive deal with Colombia, it becomes a gateway to the whole region. Chile and Peru are next. Then maybe Brazil. That is the grand strategy.
One former minister I spoke to put it bluntly: 'We cannot rely on Europe forever. This is where the growth is. Trump might be unpredictable, but his interest in Colombia is a lucky break. We must take it.'
Of course, the Whitehall machine moves slowly. Negotiations are scheduled for the autumn. But Trump's timeline is faster. He wants a win before the next election. That could force UK negotiators to pick up the pace.
Insiders say the mood in the Department for Business and Trade is 'cautiously optimistic.' They are dusting off old files. Scheduling ministerial calls. The lobbying has begun.
For now, the headlines are all about Trump. But in the dark corners of the Foreign Office, they know a quiet opportunity when they see one. Britain's colonial past still casts a long shadow in Latin America. But these days, it is trade, not empire, that drives the agenda.
Watch this space. The Colombia dossier is about to get a lot heavier.
