Colombian Judiciary Defends Autonomy Amid U.S. Criticism of Álvaro Uribe Bribery Conviction Ahead of 2026 Elections

The Colombian judiciary has come under international and domestic scrutiny following a ruling that found former President Álvaro Uribe guilty of bribery and obstruction of justice. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau criticized the decision, with Rubio describing it as a “militarization” and “instrumentalization” of Colombia's judicial system. In response, the Colombian Embassy in the United States affirmed the judiciary's full autonomy. President Gustavo Petro urged the U.S. Embassy in Colombia not to interfere in the country's justice system. The ruling has sparked political debate ahead of Colombia's 2026 elections, with former President Iván Duque warning against perceiving the verdict as a victory and emphasizing the need to avoid permissiveness toward criminals. Business groups expressed support for Uribe, while Uribe’s legal team announced plans to appeal, with the case set for review by the Bogotá Superior Tribunal's Criminal Chamber. Uribe’s son and legal representatives criticized the ruling, suggesting that a higher court or history will ultimately judge the process. Senator Iván Cepeda stated that the ruling is not part of any political plan.