United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Colombia on Tuesday to meet President Abelardo de la Espriella, sign agreements on critical minerals and civil nuclear cooperation and take up the country’s ties to China, in the first visit by a cabinet-level US official since the Colombian leader took office a month ago.
Colombia’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Chinese investment in critical infrastructure were on the agenda for the meeting, a Colombian official who was not authorised to speak publicly told the South China Morning Post.
“We have a lot of common interest with them, both taking on regional transnational criminal terrorism and also economic engagements,” Rubio told reporters before the trip.
“It’s part of a trend that you’re seeing in the Western Hemisphere of alignment with US and US interests.”
The New York Times first reported that trade relations with China would be on the agenda, citing two people familiar with the trip. The Chinese embassy in Bogota and the US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Colombia holds coal, nickel and copper deposits and has been mapping reserves of the metals used in batteries and electronics, a supply chain China dominates worldwide. Neither government said in advance which minerals the agreement covers.