US, Latin American allies urge against casting doubt on Colombia's electoral process

WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - The United States and a group of countries in Latin America said on Friday they had "deep concern" about ​statements and actions that cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process in ‌Colombia.

"We observe with deep concern the recent statements and actions that, without duly substantiated grounds, cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process in the Republic of Colombia," a joint statement released by the State Department said. It did ​not cite any specific action or comment.

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It was signed by the U.S., Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, ​Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad ⁠and Tobago.

Colombian right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella clinched a tight victory in last month's presidential election. ​U.S. President Donald Trump had endorsed him.

Friday's joint statement came from the countries called the "Shield of the Americas," ​a Trump-created military alliance of right-wing leaders pledging to fight drug trafficking.

Trump had publicly feuded with Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and Colombia's first leftist president. Colombian leftist senator Ivan Cepeda conceded in the country's presidential race late last ​month.

Cepeda criticized what he cast as foreign interference by Trump in the race, said voters had been manipulated ​by content made with artificial intelligence and accused De La Espriella of a vote-buying operation, without providing evidence.

De La ‌Espriella, ⁠who promised a crackdown on crime and an economic revival, also accused Cepeda of vote-buying, without providing evidence.

"The transition between governments does not constitute a political concession, but rather a constitutional and institutional duty designed to guarantee the continuity of the State, democratic stability, and the effective fulfillment of the popular ​will," the joint statement added.

Trump ​himself had falsely ⁠claimed he won the 2020 elections that he lost to former President Joe Biden before returning to the White House last year after winning the 2024 ​elections. His supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to ​prevent Congress ⁠from certifying the results of the 2020 vote.

Trump has moved to increase U.S. presence and influence in Latin America. He ordered the seizure of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid and the U.S. ⁠military ​has carried out multiple strikes on boats in the Caribbean that ​have killed dozens.

Rights advocates say such actions are illegal, imperial and amount to extra-judicial killings. Trump casts them as attempts to counter ​drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Franklin Paul and Kim Coghill

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Kanishka Singh

Thomson Reuters

Kanishka Singh is a breaking news reporter for Reuters in Washington DC, who primarily covers US politics and national affairs in his current role. His past breaking news coverage has spanned across a range of topics like the Black Lives Matter movement; the US elections; the 2021 Capitol riots and their follow up probes; the Brexit deal; US-China trade tensions; the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan; the COVID-19 pandemic; and a 2019 Supreme Court verdict on a religious dispute site in his native India.

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