Colombian Vice President and U.S. Secretary of State Meet to Discuss Bilateral Partnership
Colombian Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The two leaders discussed how to speed COVID-19 vaccines to Colombia and the next High-Level Dialogue.
Discussion with Secretary Blinken Bookends a Week of Meetings with Senior U.S. Officials
In an agenda organized by the Colombian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Colombian Vice President Ramírez, joined by Colombian Ambassador to the United States Francisco Santos, solidified U.S. support for Colombia in a week of meetings with senior U.S. officials, including:
National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere Juan González“There is clear support for Colombia and the Colombian people. … The United States is there to support Colombia, as we have done for many decades," González said. Read more
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee “Between the COVID-19 pandemic, the worsening security situation in Venezuela, and the malign influence of state and non-state actors, Colombia is facing formidable challenges to its hard fought gains in democratic governance, security, and economic prosperity.” Read more
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues
Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Relations Committee, who expressed full U.S. support for the vaccination plan in Colombia. Read more
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) to discuss how to advance a constructive agenda based on transparency and democratic principles. Read more
Senators William Hagerty (R-TN) and Christopher Murphy (D-CT), during which she reiterated the Government's commitment to “not allow any case of violence to go unpunished” and to be guarantors of respect for human rights. Read more
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere Daniel Erikson, with whom she strengthened common goals, facing the current challenges of the region and the needs of the citizens. Read more
Senior officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to discuss the progress of the National Vaccination Plan and the hard work that the Colombian Ministry of Health has done to face the pandemic.
Director for the Americas of Human Rights Watch José Miguel Vivanco
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) “During the meeting, the Colombian Foreign Minister announced the sending of the specific information requested by the IACHR regarding the protests and invited it to make a working visit to Colombia after the public hearing on the human rights situation in Colombia, which will be held on June 29 during the 180 Period of Sessions of the IACHR.” Read more
Adam Isacson, Director for Defense Oversight, Washington Office On Latin America (WOLA); Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli, Director for Los Andes de WOLA; and Keith Mines, Director of the Latin America Program, United States Institute of Peace, during which the Vice President reiterated the Colombian Government’s commitment to democratic principles and reiterated that violence will always be rejected, regardless of its origin. Read more
Stay Informed on the Latest Developments
An Online Conversation with Colombian President Iván Duque at a event co-hosted by the Wilson Center and the Inter-American Dialogue (May 27th, 2021)
Atlantic Council: A studio conversation with Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia Marta Lucía Ramírez (May 25th, 2021)
The United States Stands By Its Partner in Democracy
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin: “Spoke with Colombian Minister of National Defense @Diego_Molano. I expressed my commitment to strengthening our defense relationship.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “I believe … President [Duque] has struck the right balance and I will continue to support a strong relationship between Colombia and the United States as Colombia is an invaluable partner in the region.”
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ): “… [I]nterlopers are using this to undermine the state. … What happens in #Colombia could easily happen in any other Latin American country and we don't want that fire going all the way down to Tierra del Fuego.”
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX): “This is our hemisphere, this is our neighborhood, and we should protect it.”
U.S. State Department: “We have continued to engage with our Colombian partners on this. We have done this from the State Department here, from our embassy in Bogota, and that won’t change. We’ll continue to be engaged.” Read more
ICYMI: A Forbes Interview with President Duque
