Petro-US Meeting: Key Details & Highlights
This Friday, President Gustavo Petro He met with the United States delegation (USA). The representation is led by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno and Democratic Senator Rubén Gallego, both of Colombian origin.
The meeting, which began towards 12 of the day and extended until 2:30 in the afternoon, revolved about the purpose of strengthening bilateral relations. In that sense, there were three strategic issues.
The first was to strengthen mutually beneficial economic growth through increased trade and investment. The second point of dialogue was to boost bilateral efforts on security. And the last point to be treated was to achieve joint actions to combat drug trafficking and transnational crime.
After the extensive meeting, Interior Minister Armando Benedetti spoke with media and said that “it was a meeting too Bacana and splendid. It was very constructive what was done today with the US senators.”
The minister also took stock of the issues discussed. “There was talk of migration, intelligence to combat drug trafficking, drug traffickers, something with Venezuela. There were several issues, but all in the best tone and constructively,” declared.
Benedetti said that he could not give more details on the topics discussed but that at all points there was a good tone.
In that same line of good tone of the meeting he said: “You have to erase what happened in the past and the open book remains for everyone.” To this he added: “We must not look back, but you have to open a new stage.”
Faced with the issue of political violence, which was one of the concerns of the US delegation, the Interior Minister said that figures were shown that would demonstrate that the figures have lowered. “They were shown how that has happened,” said Benedetti, who reiterated that all guarantees for the 2026 elections are feasible.
There was also space for the commercial issue, according to the official: “We talk about the safety of cars for the issue of imports and the purchase of coffee to Colombia for what is happening with Brazil. ” The importance of both countries as commercial partners was reaffirmed.
As for a possible descertification, Benedetti recalled that this was not an issue that was properly talked with congressmen but clarified that they could help the Donald Trump government not apply this measure.
The meeting attendees:
By the American delegation They were the business manager of the United States, John McNamara; Senators Bernie Moreno (Republican) and Rubén Gallego (Democrat); Víctor Cervino, member of the United States International Relations Team; and the chiefs of Cabinet Phil Letsou (Chief of Cabinet of Moreno) and Raphael Chavez Fernández (Chief of Cabinet of Gallego).
For Colombia, in addition to President Petro, were the Chancellor in charge, Rosa Villavicencio; DIRECTOR OF DAPRE, ANGIE RODRÍGUEZ; Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, the Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez. There was no Alfredo Saade, which was attracted again after his absence on Thursday.