Mauricio Ardila of George Washington University looks at the evolution of Facebook and how users organically mobilized millions of people to march against the FARC in Colombia.

A Colombian strike against the FARC in Ecuador ignited tensions with Quito and Caracas, causing a diplomatic breakdown and economic repercussions.

Signed into law at the end of February, the Andean Trade Preferences Agreement will be extended for 10 months. The real goal, however, is permanent and reciprocal trade agreements.

In a Miami Herald op-ed, Colombia's Vice President Francisco Santos underlines the importance of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S., which is currently pending approval in Congress.

Since President Alvaro Uribe took office in Colombia five years ago, the country has made progress in boosting security. AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal writes that the time has come for U.S. Congress to approve a bilateral trade agreement as the "single most effective tool to help bring economic and political security to Colombia."

In a Miami Herald editorial, retired U.S. General Barry R. McCaffrey explains that Colombia's robust economy and drastically improved security situation warrant approval of a U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement—a pact currently stalled in the U.S. Congress.

While a U.S.-Peru bilateral agreement moved forward in Congress, the Council of the Americas brought together Ambassador John Veroneau of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Colombia's Minister of Trade Luis Guillermo Plata. Speakers emphasized the need for congressional approval of a trade deal with Colombia, a key U.S. ally in the hemisphere.