By Matt Spetalnick
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration is willing to discuss the existing U.S.-Colombia trade agreement with the Andean country’s next president, a senior U.S. official said, as Washington dispatched a high-level delegation on Thursday to begin forging a relationship with him.
Gustavo Petro, a 62-year-old economist who will become Colombia’s first leftist leader next month, talked during his campaign about proposals to renegotiate trade pacts, including a 2012 deal with the United States, but moderated some of his stances by the time he was elected last month.
Asked whether Washington is willing to renegotiate the accord or open it up for discussion, the senior administration official said: “Any conversations relating to the U.S.-Colombia trade promotion agreement will be led by the U.S. Trade Representative.”
“We look forward to engaging in those discussions with the Petro administration after he is inaugurated on Aug. 7,” the official added.
The official previewed a visit to Bogota beginning on Thursday by a group of U.S. officials that could be a test for what has long been one of the closest U.S. partnerships in Latin America. They will meet outgoing President Ivan Duque as well as President-elect Petro and his transition team.
Petro has called the U.S.-led drug war a “complete failure,” saying the government should instead support small farmers with substitute crops and increase their incomes.
Asked how the delegation would address the issue, a second official said it wants to “to listen and to understand the contours and the nuances” of Petro’s ideas.
President Joe Biden’s administration believes a “holistic approach” focused on economic livelihoods and security is needed and they can find common ground, the official added.
Petro has also raised concerns in Washington over his outreach to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is under U.S. sanctions. The two leaders said last month they discussed reestablishing normal relations at their countries’ border.
Asked whether Petro’s efforts could undermine efforts to isolate Venezuela’s Socialist leader, the second official said Colombia could help encourage Maduro and the Venezuelan opposition to resume negotiations.
The visit is also intended to provide reassurances against “speculation” about the U.S.-Colombia relationship, one official said, referring to questions about how well the countries would work together once Petro takes office.
The agenda will include discussion of implementation of a 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and FARC rebels, the officials said.
The delegation includes the White House’s top Latin America adviser Juan Gonzalez, Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer and Philip Gordon, Vice President Kamala Harris’ national security adviser.
(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Marguerita Choy)