Joe Biden and Colombia Part 1: Duque 'optimistic' about relations

[Judi Lynn]

by Adriaan Alsema January 14, 2021

Colombia’s President Ivan Duque is “optimistic” about working with US-President-elect Joe Biden despite strain relations over alleged election meddling by his government.

Duque has every reason to be optimistic as relations haven’t been this bad since 1994 when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed former President Ernesto Samper’s election campaign was financed with drug money.

Colombia’s current president and his far-right party are being investigated on similar charges and could see Washington investigating alleged meddling in the US elections to favor President Donald Trump.

Duque told British news agency Reuters, however, that Biden “has been a great friend of Colombia” and that the president expects the president-elect “will continue to improve this relation.”

More:
https://colombiareports.com/joe-biden-and-colombia-part-1-duque-optimistic-about-relations/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Joe Biden and Colombia Part 2: ending the 'War on Drugs'

by Adriaan Alsema January 15, 2021

President-elect Joe Biden wants to end the United States’ so-called “War on Drugs,” which may force Colombia’s President Ivan Duque to drastically revise domestic drug policies.

Duque gladly returned to the hardline stance on drug use and drug trafficking promoted by his political patron, former President Alvaro Uribe, after taking office in 2018.

Despite the counterproductive results, Colombia’s president could count on the support of his outgoing American counterpart Donald Trump.

In fact, Duque has been trying to resume the controversial aerial spraying of coca, the base ingredient of cocaine, ever since Trump took office in 2018, but without success.

More:
https://colombiareports.com/joe-biden-and-colombia-part-2-ending-the-war-on-drugs/