Marco Rubio may visit Colombia next week
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit Colombia next week and meet with President Abelardo de la Espriella in Barranquilla. Anadolu Agency reports, citing Colombian media. The exact date of the trip has not yet been confirmed.
If the visit takes place, it will be Rubio’s first official working visit to Colombia since joining the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
On August 18, de la Espriella held a telephone conversation with Rubio. Afterward, the Colombian president said that Colombia and the United States must be united.
Trade and aid
The Colombian president reiterated his request to temporarily suspend tariffs affecting Colombian goods. He also discussed efforts to obtain U.S. aid after the earthquake that occurred on August 10.
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According to media reports, diplomatic and economic issues, including trade and cooperation, may be discussed during the meeting.
Security cooperation
The governments of the two countries also seek to strengthen security cooperation. Topics that may be raised during the talks include combating drug trafficking and regional security.
In July, Rubio met in Washington with Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo, before de la Espriella’s inauguration. They discussed security cooperation, the eradication of illegal crops, the restoration of public order, and strengthening Colombia’s armed forces. Restrepo also raised the possibility of Colombia formally joining the U.S.-backed “Shield of the Americas” initiative.
No other details of Rubio’s Latin American trip have been reported so far.
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