Colombia has significant natural resources, and its diverse culture reflects the indigenous Andean, Spanish and African origins of its people. However, a decades-long internal armed conflict continues to be a cause of significant human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law, a situation aggravated by drug trafficking and the presence of non-state armed groups. The largest non-state armed group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the FARC), is said to have come under heavy pressure following military successes by Colombia's army in 2008.

In July 2008, after being held hostage by the FARC for more than six years, former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, as well as a number of other hostages, including three US citizens, were rescued by the army in a carefully planned operation. The rescue took place without a shot being fired. In February 2009, the FARC freed six high-profile hostages, including a former provincial governor held since 2001. The following month, they released a Swedish man thought to be the group's last foreign hostage, Erik Roland Larsson. President Uribe offered the FARC peace talks if they halt "criminal activities" and declare a cease-fire.

A diplomatic crisis was sparked in March 2008 after Colombia attacked a camp belonging to the FARC in Ecuador. Based on documents recovered at the scene, Colombia accused President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela of having provided financial support to the FARC. In July, diplomatic and commercial relations with Venezuela were re-established after Colombian President Alvaro Uribe met with his Venezuelan counterpart.

However, relations again deteriorated in July 2009 after plans to allow US troops to use Colombian military bases as part of a drive to curb drug-trafficking were unveiled. Venezuela froze diplomatic ties after the Colombian government accused Caracas of supplying arms to the FARC.

Previously, at the end of March 2008, Ecuador had initiated a case against Colombia in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging that Colombian efforts to eradicate illicit coca crops were damaging legitimate crops in Ecuador, and that they represented a violation of Ecuador's sovereignty.

^{This overview is based on the BBC online country profile of Colombia.}