Duque praises that the US places Colombia as a strategic ally

the president of Colombia, Ivan Dukecelebrated this Thursday in Washington, where he is visiting, a bill presented in the US Congress that recognizes his country as a “strategic ally of United States”.

This legislation “raises Colombia’s relationship with the United States to the highest of these 200 years” of bilateral ties, said Duque, in statements to the press, accompanied by one of the promoters of this initiative, Democratic Senator Bob Menéndez.

“The support of the United States to Colombia has been bipartisan, it has been bicameral and we want the legislative power of the United States to convert this into a vigorous law, and to continue giving us for 200 years (more) relations in investment, trade, security and defense of the environment”, listed the Colombian president.

In short, he considered that the draft of said law recognizes “200 years of tradition and shared values ​​and principles.”

Duque is visiting Washington, where he meets this Thursday with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, at the White House, in their first official meeting since the US president has been in power.

During his visit to Congress, Duque held meetings with several senators, including Democrat Menéndez, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Menéndez stressed that this Thursday he had “a good conversation” with Duque, whom he described as “a tremendous ally” of the United States, just like Colombia.

The senator from New Jersey, of Cuban roots, remarked that he presented this draft law to “cement the next 200 years of relationship, in a significant way.”

The initiative was presented on Wednesday by Menéndez and Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, chairman of the subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Upper House, and “seeks to establish a comprehensive agenda for relations between the United States and Colombia.”

Among other points, the bill seeks to formally designate Colombia as “an important non-NATO ally.”

In addition, the draft, baptized as the Bill for the Strategic Alliance between the United States and Colombia of 2022, reinforces the support of the United States for efforts to advance peace and democratic governance, including the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement. that ended the Colombian conflict.

It also contemplates a boost to investments in Colombian companies through the creation of a new Colombian-American business fund, which aims to help catalyze Colombia’s economic recovery and promote new efforts to reduce the United States’ dependence on supply chains. Chinese.