By Roy Lie Atjam
On July 4, 2025, the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in the Netherlands, under the acumen direction of H.E. Ambassador Carolina Olarte Bácares, organized a captivating performance by Ensálsate, one of Colombia’s finest salsa dance companies. This vibrant display was a fusion of passion and rhythm, offering a genuine celebration of Colombian culture.
Ambassador Carolina Olarte Bácares captivated the audience with her reflections on Colombia’s extraordinary journey through history, highlighting the nation’s rich heritage and promising future. She passionately emphasized Colombia’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean islands.
Emphasizing the theme “Building Bridges,” the Ambassador outlined Colombia’s efforts to connect with Aruba, Curaçao, as well as Haiti. A significant moment occurred during President Gustavo Petro’s visit to Haiti on July 18, 2025, where he concluded vital bilateral projects in security, commerce, education, and agriculture. On this visit, he inaugurated Colombia’s new Embassy, just ahead of Colombia’s Independence Day on July 20, a date of great significance as Haiti played a crucial role in Colombia’s liberation alongside Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama from Spanish colonial rule.
Ambassador Carolina Olarte Bácares address to the many guests “ thank you all for joining us today and of course many thanks to our performers of Ensálsate who delight us with their skill.
Colombians here today and all of you who have visited our country or been in touch with our culture might know how present music and dance is in the life of our people. What we have just seen, however, is a level of talent that deserves all our praise and recognition.
In late October and November last year, Cali was the world capital of biodiversity as the 16th United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (the COP16) took place in the city. Due to its popularity and overall presence, Cali is also the capital of one of the many musical expressions enjoyed by Colombians throughout our different regions: salsa.
Fortunately, having these dancers from Cali make you witness first-hand what “Salsa Caleña” looks like allows me to align my remarks with what their art transmits: joy, skill, dedication, rhythm.
Joy, since today we are celebrating in advance the 20th of July, Colombia’s National Day. This milestone makes us reflect on 215 years of independence of our nation, more than two centuries in which we recognize the courage and determination of all those who, day after day, have forged and consolidated our autonomy, self-determination, and constant development through their work and effort.
Also skill and dedication because these are required from all of us to try to achieve, just as the performers, the perfect synchrony with our key partners in the Netherlands, be it other States, organizations, institutions or our nationals.
These interactions come at times with twists, turns or jumps, sometimes at a high-pace, other times slower, at times closer, or maybe further, while not always the same side taking the lead every time.This “dance”, in a certain way, in which we engage with the best interest of Colombia, its partners and nationals in mind is part of what we commemorate today.
We have the privilege of celebrating our National Day with all of you, and particularly in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with whom we have worked closely to maintain and promote the democratic values that unite us.
Indeed, this past year has allowed us to further consolidate our bilateral relations through the high-level political consultation mechanism that took place last November in The Hague. After reviewing a full and intense bilateral agenda, such meeting marked the continuation of multiple high-level visits to our two countries in several of the sectors where our relationship is robust.
For example, in environmental and sustainability matters, and more particularly with respect to the joint fight against climate change, we had the honor of receiving a visit to our country from His Royal Highness Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Climate Special Envoy of the Netherlands, to deepen bilateral cooperation on climate and water resilience. Later on, we confirmed our commitment to clean energy through our participation with a Colombian Pavillion at the 2025 World Hydrogen Summit and Exhibition in Rotterdam, showcasing our country as a strategic partner in the green hydrogen market.
Likewise, the cooperation between Colombia and the Netherlands in the field of security and defense remains a cornerstone of our efforts to promote peace and regional stability as well as the fight against transnational organized crime. This was sealed this year by the visit from the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral Rene Tas. As a result, the relationship between our navy industries has undoubtedly strengthened, and can be verified in the progress made on the construction in COTECTMAR, our shipyard in Cartagena, of one of the new Colombian frigate in partnership with the centennial Dutch company DAMEN.
Additionally, police collaboration was reinforced through our officers at EUROPOL celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Operational and Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Colombia, and by the presence of General Triana to the Netherlands in March 2025, in his capacity as both the Director General of the Colombian National Police and the President of AMERIPOL.
Last November our Embassy carried out the initiative “Building Bridges between Colombia, Aruba, and Curaçao”. This incredible initiative was conducted in coordination with the Colombian consulates in these Caribbean islands, and relied on the strong support of the respective governments and their Plenipotentiary Ministers in The Hague. The project promoted cultural, academic, and commercial ties through youth exchanges, sustainable tourism discussions, and culinary diplomacy. This kind of dynamic initiatives paves the way for our firm commitment of enduring our South-South cooperation strategy with the Dutch Caribbean states and territories.
Finally, we are honored to continue showcasing Colombia’s spirit of peace, diversity, and diplomacy through our “Ambassador in the Seas of the World”, the Colombian Navy flagship “ARC Gloria”. Last year, we had the privilege of celebrating Colombia’s National Day aboard the Gloria, and I am pleased to announce that the vessel will visit Aruba in August 2025; then, next year, in May, it will dock in Willemstad Curaçao, and finally in September, it will visit us again in The Hague.
Looking ahead to this bilateral agenda, I am proud to share that in 2026 Colombia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands will celebrate 200 years of bilateral relations. We hope that this upcoming landmark will constitute an opportunity to reflect on our journey as partners, and to envision an even stronger future together.
At the multilateral level Colombia will continue promoting, respecting, and guaranteeing the international rules-based order. Now more than ever, we have additional capacities to do so with even greater emphasis on the occasion of both Colombia’s election to the UN Security Council starting January 2026, and our current presidency of the CELAC regional mechanism, with the consequent organization of the CELAC-EU Summit next November in Santa Marta.
Faithful to its commitment to peace and human rights, Colombia will continue to pay respect for the important judicial work carried out by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. In consequence, we will strongly advocate for their lasting autonomy and independence.
Regarding the latter institution, we were grateful for the recent visit to Bogotá by the Court’s Registrar, Oswaldo Zavala, and the former Chair of the board of directors of the Trust Fund for Victims, Minou Tavarez. In turn, we very much appreciate the warm welcome given recently to our Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs by the President of the Court, the Deputy Prosecutors, and the Registrar, during his recent visit to The Hague.
Likewise, we celebrate the recent visit to Bogotá by the Secretary General of the HCCH, Christoph Bernasconi, as well as the coming visit by the Secretary General of the PCA, Marcin Czepelak. While the former contributed to advance in our accession to the HCCH statute, the latter will facilitate the signing of the host agreement with the PCA. Likewise, these visits facilitated engaging in high-level discussions with government authorities, judicial representatives, and academic leaders. Moreover, this collaboration not only strengthened institutional ties but also reaffirmed Colombia’s commitment to the values and objectives that unite a world in turmoil around the decisive contribution of the peaceful settlement of disputes.
I would like to conclude these remarks by mentioning three significant initiatives we have recently supported within the multilateral context, and which align with our convictions regarding multilateralism and the international community.
First, we took part in the creation of the Group of Friends of Spanish in The Hague, which aims to coordinate activities for the defense and promotion of the Spanish language in The Hague.
Second, and in the same line, we have partnered with The Hague Academy of International Law to organize in March 2026, for the first time in history, a regular course in Latin America that from now on will be held in Cartagena, contributing to foster the regional international law tradition and contributions, and our vibrant legal industry.
Last but definitely not least important, we are part of the inter-state effort that created, in January of this year, The Hague Group. This initiative brings together several states in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.
All this activity constantly builds bridges between Colombia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the organizations and institutions based in the city of peace and justice. Today we want to honor those bridges through culture, art, and gastronomy.
Thank you for your attention, and I’ll leave you again with the second act of Ensalsate, Colombia’s finest salsa dancing company, offering a breathtaking fusion of rhythm, passion, and magic.
The uplifting Colombian afternoon concluded with an enthusiastic participation from ambassadors and diplomats, all swaying to the infectious salsa rhythm, beautifully capturing the spirit of a 215-year celebration.
