U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive in Colombia Tuesday, where she plans to meet outgoing President Alvaro Uribe and presidential candidates Juan Manuel Santos and Antanas Mockus.
U.S. Ambassador in Colombia William Brownfield told journalists that Clinton’s visit represents Washington’s commitment to Colombia and its future government elect.
“The symbolic message of this visit will be to reinforce the fact that the bilateral relation remains strong, its importance for both nations,” Brownfield said.
While in Colombia, Clinton seeks to communicate the message that there is a “positive” transition in Bogota – Washingon bilateral relations, Brownfield said, adding that the secretary of state “will probably sign a few agreements.”
A spokesman from the U.S. State Department, Philip Crowley, said that Clinton’s visit is “an indication of the importance” that her government finds “not just in bilateral relations but also the constructive role Colombia performs” in terms of security and the fight against drug trafficking.
Clinton will arrive in Bogota Tuesday night, accompanied by her husband former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and will meet with Uribe Wednesday to discuss her nation’s bilateral agenda with Colombia, with a focus on security, drug trafficking, politics and economy.
According to Uribe, Colombia’s pending free trade agreement with the U.S. will be high on the agenda, as will the war on drugs.
Before Uribe meet with Clinton, he will meet with her husband for a private chat behind closed doors.
Clinton’s visit follows that of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates last April.