The White Home on Thursday mentioned it intends to designate Colombia as a significant non-NATO ally in a strategic partnership geared toward strengthening safety, ending the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing local weather change. President Iván Duque Márquez of Colombia celebrated the transfer, saying that it's a "crucial diplomatic achievement."
"This signifies a very powerful recognition of the significance that now we have constructed over time," Duque informed CBS Information senior White Home and political correspondent Ed O'Keefe. "This can permit Colombia to have entry to funding and commerce and safety in issues that may strengthen our relationship and shield Colombia."
The designation will add Colombia to a rising listing of greater than a dozen main non-NATO ally nations, and can present sure protection commerce and safety cooperation privileges to Colombia, in keeping with the U.S. Division of State.
The White Home mentioned it made the designation as a consequence of "Colombia's important contributions as a NATO World Companion, its dedication to NATO's mission to advertise democratic values and dedication to the peaceable decision of disputes, and its rejection of Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression towards Ukraine."
Duque, who met with President Biden on the White Home Thursday, mentioned the transfer will permit Colombia to obtain extra help in areas together with local weather motion and refugee safety because the nation offers with "essentially the most complicated migration disaster in Latin America in current historical past."
He referred to as his assembly with Mr. Biden "clear" and "open."
In a joint assertion Thursday, the 2 leaders mentioned that the 2 nations have "acknowledged the necessity for our governments to show that democracy can ship to enhance the lives of our residents."
Colombia's president mentioned neighboring nation Venezuela — certainly one of Russia's high allies in Latin America — ought to return to democracy. He referred to as the nation's president, Nicolás Maduro, a dictator.
"Venezuela wants to interact that path, in any other case the tragedy that they're dwelling goes to proceed," he mentioned relating to a democratic transition.
Mr. Biden and Duque additionally mentioned they've agreed to prioritize investments in initiatives targeted on areas together with gender fairness and digital connectivity, dedicated themselves to "increasing longstanding bilateral safety cooperation" and can proceed efforts to finish the COVID-19 pandemic.