On September 9, 2026, in Barranquilla, Colombia and the United States signed two memoranda of understanding covering civil nuclear energy and critical minerals. The signing took place at the close of a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella — the first high-level summit since de la Espriella assumed the presidency in August. It was a clear political signal, as much as a concrete step forward on the energy front.
The first memorandum addresses cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, encompassing energy security, scientific research, and the development of Colombia’s regulatory framework. The second focuses on critical minerals and rare earths, a sector in which Colombia holds significant reserves. Jointly dubbed the “Barranquilla Agreements,” the two accords mark the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two countries, following years of cooling under the previous Petro administration.
On the nuclear side, cooperation will explore American technologies already in operation or in advanced stages of development, with particular emphasis on small modular reactors and advanced reactor designs. The agreement also covers collaboration on research reactors, radioisotopes, nuclear medicine, agricultural applications, and materials management — all within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. The United States already maintains similar agreements in the region with Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Paraguay; Colombia now joins that group.
The geopolitical context is significant. Washington is seeking to strengthen its footprint across Latin America through technological cooperation in strategic sectors — from civil nuclear energy to the supply chains of minerals essential for the defense and electronics industries. Rubio described the trip — which also included stops in Ecuador and Peru — as part of a broader effort to reinforce ties with hemispheric partners aligned with American interests. De la Espriella’s Colombia fits squarely into that framework, with a posture markedly different from that of its predecessor.
For Colombia, the civil nuclear agreement represents a starting point. The country has no operational nuclear power plants, but the memorandum formally opens the door to a pathway that could lead to the introduction of American technology — particularly SMRs — into the national energy mix. If negotiations continue at the same pace as the signing, Bogotá could emerge in the coming years as one of the key markets for the US nuclear industry in Latin America.
