Colombian Foreign Policy in the Context of Latin American Integration

As of August 7, 2010 the Colombian government has become more actively involved in Latin American regional issues. The most recognized achievements have been the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Ecuador and Venezuela, the commitment made in different arenas to strengthen mechanisms of regional integration, the renewed interest in giving priority to relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, and the interest in diversifying international relations. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the evident shift in Colombia's foreign policy since Juan Manuel Santos assumed presidency and to detail the effects of this change in the framework of LatinAmerican regional integration. Also, the paper addresses how these new shifts could grant Colombia some degree of autonomy in its foreign policy.