The White Home assembly can even characteristic different subjects, together with the way forward for the US-Colombian relationship, safety cooperation, efforts to guard Colombian elections from outdoors interference and environmental considerations, in keeping with one official. Biden and Duque can even overview the US and Colombia’s “holistic” method to counternarcotics, which incorporates addressing its root causes, the official mentioned.
Thursday’s assembly comes forward of the ninth Summit of the Americas, which will likely be hosted in Los Angeles in June. One of many points that will likely be addressed in that summit will likely be migration and higher assist international locations which are on the “entrance line,” one official mentioned.
“We’re seeking to construct off of the instance of nations like Colombia, convey extra assist to international locations once more on the entrance line, convey leaders across the desk to collectively have a look at how we will chart a brand new course to higher handle migration within the Western Hemisphere,” the official mentioned.
As of June 2021, greater than 1.7 million Venezuelans had fled to Colombia, which has granted momentary protected standing to Venezuelans within the nation.
White Home press secretary Jen Psaki mentioned final week that the assembly between Biden and Duque “gives a possibility for the Presidents to have fun 200 years of optimistic diplomatic relations and seek the advice of on a spread of regional and world problems with mutual curiosity, together with Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified army invasion of Ukraine, and the promotion of democracy, safety, and prosperity within the hemisphere.”
Requested about Russian affect within the Americas and disinformation, one administration official pointed to “technical help and assist” the US has supplied to Colombia to defend crucial infrastructure and counter misinformation efforts.