Colombia–Ecuador border
Much of it follows the Putumayo river through the Amazon rainforest. In 2008 Colombia bombed a FARC rebel camp on the Ecuadorian side, a raid that broke off relations for more than two years.
Written from cited sourcesLast checked 29 September 2026Suggest a correction
See it on the globe:Colombia →Ecuador →
Along the Putumayo
In the east the border follows the Putumayo, which rises near Pasto in the Colombian Andes and flows southeast through tropical rainforest, forming most of Colombia’s border with both Ecuador and Peru before it joins the Amazon in Brazil.[1]
The 2008 raid
On 1 March 2008 Colombia attacked a camp of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) across the border in Ecuador, killing 25 FARC members including Raúl Reyes, the group’s second-in-command. The raid was coordinated by Colombia’s then defence minister, Juan Manuel Santos.[3]
Ecuador said its sovereignty had been violated, and Ecuador and Venezuela cut diplomatic ties with Colombia. The Organization of American States approved a resolution calling the operation a violation of Ecuadorean sovereignty, though it stopped short of explicitly condemning it; the United States was the only member to back Bogotá without qualification.[4] Ecuador and Venezuela both moved troops to their borders with Colombia.[2]
After Santos became president in 2010, he shared information about the bombing with Ecuador, and in November 2010 he and President Rafael Correa agreed to restore full diplomatic relations.[3]
New tensions
Relations soured again in 2026. Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, imposed 50% tariffs on Colombia from March, accusing it of being too lax on drug trafficking; Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, accused Ecuador of carrying out bombings near the Colombian border. In April 2026 Ecuador recalled its ambassador from Bogotá after Petro called the jailed former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas a political prisoner.[5]
Timeline
20081 March 2008
Raid in Ecuador
Colombia bombs a FARC camp across the border, killing Raúl Reyes.[3]
2008March 2008
Ties cut
Ecuador and Venezuela break relations; the OAS calls the raid a violation of sovereignty.[4]
2010November 2010
Relations restored
Santos and Correa agree to return ambassadors.[3]
2026March 2026
Tariffs
Ecuador imposes 50% tariffs on Colombian goods.[5]
2026April 2026
Ambassador recalled
Ecuador recalls its envoy over Petro’s comments.[5]
More borders
Ecuador
Sources
- [1]Putumayo River · Encyclopaedia Britannica (Wayback Machine copy)
- [2]Ecuador seeks OAS role in raid row · Al Jazeera · 25 March 2008
- [3]Colombia mends ties with Ecuador · Al Jazeera · 27 November 2010
- [4]Ecuador in diplomatic offensive · Al Jazeera · 6 March 2008
- [5]Ecuador recalls its ambassador from Colombia over Jorge Glas comments · Al Jazeera · 8 April 2026
Map geometry from Natural Earth via world-atlas. See credits.