What does Colombia expect from the government of Joe Biden

One day before the presidential election, the future 46 of the United States, Joe Biden, in an interview for Time, reaffirmed that the Bilateral link between the two nations would follow the route of collaboration and mutual assistance on decisive issues for regional geopolitics, such as the fight against drugs (Biden, during his term as Vice President of the Obama administration, supported the eradication actions within the framework of Plan Colombia), Venezuela in transition to a democratic regime, and the implementation of the Peace Agreement, will be at the center of an agenda yet to be defined but in which, due to its generalities, the ambassador in Washington agrees, Francisco Santos, the president of the Colombo-American Chamber of Commerce, Mary Claudia Lacouture, and national academic experts.

What they agree on is that President-elect Biden it will be difficult with a Senate dominated by Republicans, a political sector that will have the power to impose its agenda, process vetoes on presidential initiatives, or directly influence issues that are not to Biden’s liking, but they are fundamental for Colombia, such as, the oil.

For Francisco Santos, Ambassador to Washington, the bilateral relationship is stronger than ever because it is worked as a matter of the nation and not of governments. He points out, in an interview for Time, that this approach was respected from the beginning by President Iván Duque, so he sees no room for criticism of an alleged interference by the Colombian government in the national electorate in North America. Underlines that Those who must render an account are the congressmen of the Colombian parties, whose statements, in favor of one or another candidate, were the subject of media attention during the closing of the North American campaign. On the other hand, Santos affirms “be prepared” to work on social issues that are of concern to the future president, such as human rights, labor issues and the implementation of the peace agreement. States that “A Democratic administration will probably understand very well the complexities that this has, it will appreciate the achievements and we will probably be able to work together to resolve the difficulties, which are many, and which are all born of the 200,000 hectares of coca that the government of Juan Manuel Santos left us. . That is the worst enemy of the peace process “.

Mary Claudia Lacouture, president of the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce, appreciates a favorable outlook for trade ties between the two countries, which will favor an FTA signed in 2012 that eliminated tariff barriers: “In commercial matters we see continuity in complementation and opportunities in this country taking into account that we have an FTA that guarantees stability and clear rules.” For the leader, there will not be a 360 degree turn on the agenda, but there will opportunities in the sector of Colombian non-mining energy exports that accumulate, during the first three quarters of 2020, US $ 3,847 million.

However, immigration reform, which is viewed favorably by the region, will face partisan obstacles from Republicans. Rafael Piñeros, a professor at the Universidad del Externado, finds it difficult for the future president to fulfill his campaign promise to manage a comprehensive reform during the first 100 days of his mandate: “It is difficult to find what the emphasis could be, especially since the congress was significantly fractured”.

With a dollar on the rise after the announcement on Saturday and waiting for a connection between the outgoing president Trump and the elected Biden, Colombia moves in the regional concert to maintain dialogue with the North American nation.

How will the dollar behave in Colombia with the arrival of Joe Biden to power?

Potato prices at levels of 20 years ago

Attention: these will be the towns that will not have electricity or water service in Bogotá

Get to know Colombia: five unexplored destinations to visit