Although Gran Colombia only existed for 12 years and dissolved in the 19th century, interest and efforts in reunification were expressed as early as 1903 when Panama separated from Colombia. People in favor of reunification are called “unionistas” or unionists. In 2008, President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez announced a proposal for the political restoration of Gran Colombia, under the Bolivarian Revolution.

Some media commentators believe that a reunified Gran Colombia could become a global economic powerhouse. That would contrast with Gran Colombia in the 1820s, whose economy was mostly agrarian and had little industry. It was speculated by the BBC that if Gran Colombia existed in 2017, it would have had a population of 96 Million people and an estimated gross domestic product of US$952 Billion.

In 2025, the President of Columbia, Gustavo Petro proposed a restoration of Gran Columbia. He proposed that the reunited state would operate as a confederation with protected autonomy of the individual member countries but operate under a shared trade policy and citizenship. When he attended the inauguration of the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa he discussed the possibility of opening up a dialogue on it. He believed it would promote South American security following the United States seizing Venezuelan oil tankers. In 2026, he proposed national referendums in each potential member country on the reunification of Gran Colombia.