Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 10/2010

Cautious Optimism for Peace in Colombia

Virginia M. Bouvier

September 2010

United States Institute of Peace

Abstract

On August 7, 2010, Juan Manuel Santos, a defense minister under the outgoing administration of President Alvaro Uribe, was inaugurated as Colombia's new president. Peace issues were largely absent from public debate during the presidential campaign, but unexpectedly surfaced in the final weeks of President Uribe's incumbency.