Álvaro Uribe Vélez is a Colombian right-wing politician, lawyer, and writer who served as the 32nd President of Colombia from 2002 to 2010, a key U.S. ally in Latin America during his tenure, particularly in the drug war through initiatives like Plan Colombia. Born into a wealthy cattle-ranching family in Medellín, Antioquia Department, he is the eldest of five children of Alberto Uribe Sierra (a landowner killed by FARC guerrillas in a 1983 kidnapping attempt) and Laura Vélez Uribe. His siblings include Santiago Uribe Vélez (accused but acquitted in paramilitary cases), María Isabel Uribe Vélez, María Teresa Uribe Vélez, and Jaime Alberto Uribe Vélez (died 2001). The family owned multiple haciendas but faced economic crisis after his father's death, retaining only one in Bolombolo, Antioquia; Uribe later acquired Hacienda El Ubérrimo (near Montería, Córdoba) and San José (23 hectares).

Education: Law degree (abogado) from Universidad de Antioquia (1977); Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard Extension School (1993); Certificate in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution from Harvard Law School (1993); Senior Associate Member at St Antony's College, Oxford (1998-1999) on Chevening-Simón Bolívar scholarship (no degree).

Political Career: Began in the Colombian Liberal Party with roles including Councillor of Salgar (1974-1976), Secretary General of the Ministry of Labor (1977-1978), Director of Civil Aviation (1980-1982), Mayor of Medellín (Aug-Dec 1982; resigned amid drug cartel allegations), Senator for Antioquia (1986-1994; awarded best senator multiple times), and Governor of Antioquia (1995-1997; promoted CONVIVIR security groups, later linked to paramilitaries).

Presidency (2002-2010): Elected in 2002 (53%) and re-elected in 2006 (62%) after constitutional reform. Implemented Democratic Security policy, expanding military and police forces with $2.8B in U.S. Plan Colombia aid, reducing homicides and kidnappings, and demobilizing AUC paramilitaries. Achieved economic growth through neoliberal reforms. Key events include Operation Jaque (2008 rescue of Ingrid Betancourt) and the Raúl Reyes raid (2008 crisis with Ecuador and Venezuela).

Post-Presidency: Founded and leads the Democratic Center party (2013). Served as Senator (2014-2020; best senator awards 2015-2019), opposing the FARC peace deal. Served on UN Gaza flotilla panel (2010) and as visiting scholar at Georgetown (2010). Active on social media: X/Twitter @AlvaroUribeVel, LinkedIn (Alvaro Uribe Velez). Website: http://alvarouribevelez.com.

Controversies and Legal History: Resigned as mayor in 1982 over alleged Medellín Cartel ties; supported CONVIVIR groups as governor accused of paramilitary links (Human Rights Watch 1998); Parapolitics scandal (2006+) with allies convicted of paramilitary ties and AUC funding admitted for his 2002 campaign (Mancuso, 2023); DAS wiretapping scandal (2009) spying on opponents; false positives scandal (3,500-10,000 civilians killed by army as guerrillas, 2002-2010); Yidispolítica and Agro Ingreso Seguro bribery scandals involving aides. In the witness tampering case (Caso Uribe), placed under house arrest in Aug 2020 and resigned from Senate; convicted in Jul 2025 of fraud and bribery (12 years house arrest starting Aug 2025), but bribery conviction overturned in Oct 2025; running for Senate in 2026. Over 28 Supreme Court processes ongoing. Additional allegations include involvement in El Aro and La Granja massacres and family paramilitary ties (e.g., cousin Mario Uribe convicted).

Personal Life: Married Lina María Moreno Mejía (1979); sons Tomás Uribe Moreno and Jerónimo Uribe Moreno (both COVID-positive in 2020 along with father). Catholic.