On March 27, 2023, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Colombian Minister of Foreign Relations Alvaro Leyva met in Washington to hold a high-level dialogue aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries. The meeting highlighted the strong partnership between the US and Colombia, with discussions covering a wide range of topics, including climate change, economic opportunities, and drug policy.
During the meeting, Blinken emphasized the importance of supporting Colombia in achieving its ambitious climate goals. He stated, “We’ll continue working to help Colombia reach its ambitious climate goals, from providing ongoing technical assistance on wind and solar projects to strengthening protection of the Amazon.”
In addition to environmental concerns, the dialogue also focused on fostering economic development in rural areas of Colombia. Blinken announced plans to expand pathways for Colombian farmers, textile producers, and other small- and medium-sized businesses to access global markets and benefit from the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. He said, “We’ll expand pathways for farmers, for textile producers, and other small- and medium-sized businesses in rural areas to get their products to global markets, and reap the benefits of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.”
Addressing the issue of violence and insecurity in Colombia, Blinken acknowledged the need to confront the root causes, such as corruption, impunity, human rights abuses, and lack of economic opportunities. He said, “We recognize that to sustainably reduce violence, we have to tackle the root causes of insecurity – like corruption, like impunity – impunity for crimes – human rights abuses, and the lack of economic opportunity.”
Blinken also reiterated his support for Colombia’s “holistic” approach to drug policy, which he had previously endorsed. In a previous visit to Bogota last October, Blinken stated, “We very much support the efforts by the government of Colombia to have a comprehensive approach to dealing with the challenge of narcotics trafficking. This includes not only interdiction, but also efforts to provide alternative livelihoods for farmers, to go after the money laundering and other aspects of the challenge.”
This high-level dialogue marks an important step in the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Colombia, demonstrating a shared commitment to addressing key challenges and promoting growth and stability in the region.
