LOS ANGELES — The United States is about to lose its best friend in Latin America.
For years, Washington and Colombia have shared close relations on a variety of issues, including immigration, combating drug trafficking, carrying out coca eradication in Colombia's highlands and standing up to its neighbor, Venezuela.
One of the oldest democracies in the region, Colombia has long been ruled by one of two parties, and for decades both have been admirers and allies of the United States, regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican occupied the White House.
