US Senator Bernie Moreno Already in Colombia
U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno is already in Colombia to participate as an international observer in the presidential elections taking place this Sunday, May 31, as he himself confirmed a few weeks ago.
The Republican congressman, born in Bogota and representing the state of Ohio in the United States Senate, arrived in Cartagena amid the international mission authorized to accompany the Colombian electoral process.
Moreno’s presence comes at a time of high political tension and growing international attention on Colombia’s presidential campaign. In recent weeks, the senator has publicly expressed concern about security and transparency guarantees in the elections, while also warning about the influence of illegal armed groups in some regions of the country.
US Senator Bernie Moreno already in Colombia
Bernie Moreno arrived in Cartagena as part of the international delegation that will observe Sunday’s election day. Information about his arrival was initially reported by Revista Semana and later confirmed by several Colombian and U.S. media outlets.
The Republican senator has maintained a strong interest in Colombia’s political situation in recent months. His participation as an international observer has drawn attention due to his positions regarding the electoral process and his recent statements about the need to guarantee “free and fair” elections in Colombia.
Moreno, who is of Colombian origin and close to conservative sectors in Washington, has been one of the Republican voices most outspoken about Latin America within the U.S. Senate. In April, he had already publicly confirmed that he would travel to the country to accompany the May 31 presidential first round.
His presence also comes after several public exchanges with Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Days ago, Moreno stated that the United States might not recognize election results if there were irregularities or a lack of democratic guarantees. Petro responded by defending Colombian institutions and stating that “the free decision of the people of Colombia is respected.”
The senator’s agenda in Colombia
So far, Bernie Moreno’s official agenda in Colombia has been focused on accompanying and monitoring the presidential electoral process. According to information released by national media outlets, the senator will participate in activities related to the international observation of the elections and will hold meetings linked to monitoring the democratic process.
No specific details have been disclosed regarding private meetings or political gatherings during his stay in the country. What has been confirmed is that Moreno will be part of the international mission present in Colombia during Sunday’s presidential election.
In the weeks leading up to his trip, the Republican senator insisted on the importance of guaranteeing the safety of candidates and campaign teams. Following the killing of Rogers Mauricio Devia, political coordinator for Abelardo de la Espriella’s campaign in the Meta region, Moreno stated that the United States was following Colombia’s political situation “closely.”
The congressman also expressed concern about possible scenarios of electoral intimidation in areas affected by illegal armed groups. His statements generated immediate reactions within the Colombian government and reignited the debate over the security and transparency of the presidential elections.
However, one of the events that has generated the greatest expectation is a planned meeting with opposition presidential candidates Paloma Valencia and Abelardo de la Espriella, in an attempt to facilitate rapprochement between the two ahead of a possible runoff against the left-wing ruling coalition on June 21.
El senador Bernie Moreno ya está en Colombia para adelantar su labor como observador electoral el domingo.
Esta fotografía la tomó nuestro compañero Juan Pablo Contreras, es el avión privado de quien iba a ser embajador de Estados Unidos en Colombia, Dan Newlin. El senador… pic.twitter.com/ThGNP0i0zd
— Juan Camilo Merlano (@JuanCMerlano) May 29, 2026
A US senator born in Bogota
Bernie Moreno was born in Bogota in 1967 and later settled in the United States, where he built his business and political career. In 2024, he was elected senator for Ohio under the Republican Party banner, with the backing of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
His profile has gained notoriety in Latin America for his positions on migration, security, and democracy in the region. He also maintains well-known family ties in Colombia: he is the brother of Luis Alberto Moreno, former president of the Inter-American Development Bank and former Minister of Economic Development in 1992, during the presidency of Cesar Gaviria, a period when the South American country laid the groundwork for the current neoliberal economic system.
Colombia’s presidential election next Sunday will take place in a highly polarized political environment and under intense international attention. Various organizations and foreign delegations will accompany the election process in different regions of the country.
In that context, Bernie Moreno’s arrival in Cartagena adds a new political and diplomatic component to elections that will be closely followed from Washington and other capitals across the region.