Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III met Colombian Protection Minister Ivan Velasquez Gomez on the Pentagon in the present day.
Austin stated he seems ahead to persevering with discussions that embrace:
- Strengthening the 2 nation’s protection relationship
- Regional and worldwide safety cooperation
- Counternarcotics
- Humanitarian impacts associated to regional migration
- Local weather change and environmental degradation
Austin stated discussions additionally will embrace how Colombia is enhancing rural improvement insecurity and Colombia’s peace implementation efforts.
The secretary stated he was glad that yesterday Velasquez met with Daniel P. Erikson, deputy assistant secretary of protection for the Western Hemisphere for an government framing assembly for the 18th U.S.-Colombia Protection Bilateral Working Group, which will probably be held subsequent 12 months.
“This annual dialogue lays the groundwork for us to debate how we are able to work much more intently collectively to make our neighborhood safer and extra affluent,” Austin stated.
The secretary additionally recommended Colombia’s efforts to handle the impression of migration on regional stability.
“You’ve got seen the struggling of individuals compelled to depart their properties searching for a greater life and I applaud your authorities’s dedication to defending these migrants,” he stated.
“We share a steadfast dedication to democracy and the rule of regulation and human rights,” Austin stated, calling Colombia a serious non-NATO ally of america and a world accomplice selling safety within the Western Hemisphere and around the globe.
Velasquez stated Colombia is dedicated to democracy and to its safety relationship with america.
The minister additionally stated he seems ahead to discussions with Austin talked about.
“It is going to be essential to work with america on our very agency objective of constructing what we name in our nation complete peace for our individuals. At its heart is our capability to enhance residing situations for our individuals and to create an setting wherein individuals can reside at peace and coexist,” he stated.