Colombia appoints Alfonso Plazas Vega as ambassador to Peru

The Colombian government, under President Abelardo De la Espriella, has designated retired Colonel Alfonso Plazas Vega as the new ambassador to Peru. This appointment comes despite Peru previously granting approval for his wife, former senator Thania Vega, to hold the position.

The diplomatic move aims to mend bilateral relations between Bogotá and Lima, which experienced significant tension during the administration of former President Gustavo Petro. Tensions escalated after Petro supported former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, leading to reciprocal withdrawals of ambassadors by both nations in 2023.

Plazas Vega’s appointment follows a legal development in the United States. A federal jury in Miami recently found him not liable in a civil lawsuit involving allegations of torture and extrajudicial execution related to the 1985 Palace of Justice siege. The appointment remains subject to standard diplomatic procedures before he can officially assume his duties.