Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently visited Colombia to meet with newly-elected President Abelardo de la Espriella. Both leaders emphasized building a strategic partnership focused on security and combating drug trafficking. Secretary Rubio’s trip includes Ecuador and Peru; two countries also committed to taking a hardline against the drug trade.
In Colombia, Secretary Rubio and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula signed two arrangements to advance cooperation in the fields of critical minerals and civil nuclear cooperation. These arrangements are aimed at reinvigorating the over 200-year U.S.-Colombia partnership and restore it as a linchpin of security and economic cooperation in the hemisphere.
The critical minerals deal establishes a U.S.-Colombia framework to secure resilient, diversified, and fair supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths. It commits both governments to mobilize government and private sector support to jointly identify and finance mining and processing projects within six months of signing.
The Civil Nuclear Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding establishes a bilateral framework for strategic civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and Colombia.
“We believe we have a lot we can do together in the field of energy, in the field of trade, in the field of commerce, that allows both countries to benefit,” said Secretary Rubio.
President De la Espriella has promised to take a hard line against drug traffickers and pledged to deport thousands of migrants in Colombia without residence permits in an effort to reduce crime.
After taking office last month, President De la Espriella brought Colombia into the Americas Counter Cartels Coalition and strengthened long-standing security cooperation with the United States, following strained relations under the previous administration of President Gustavo Petro.
“The United States and Colombia have a strong bond that exists well beyond just the cooperation of our governments,” said Secretary Rubio. “It’s a strong economic bond. It’s a strong cultural bond. It’s a strong people-to-people bond, a social bond.”
“So, I’m excited ... to be back with [President De la Espriella ] ... who I know has a great vision and energy for the future, and excited to be back in a country that has been our strongest ally and partner in the region for many, many years. And we look forward not just to restoring that but building upon it and creating a golden age of relationships between our two countries and our two people(s).”