Biden to Host Colombian President

US President Joe Biden will host Colombia’s President Ivan Duque at the White House today.

The meeting will focus primarily on regional issues concerning migration and the crisis in Venezuela while also addressing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The refugee crisis in Venezuela has posed border challenges for the United States and Colombia, where more than 6 million Venezuelans have fled or emigrated due to violence, economic collapse and authoritarian rule. In response, the Colombian government issued the Temporary Statute for the Protection of Venezuelan Migrants (TSPV), establishing a registry of migrants and a protection permit valid for 10 years.

While Russia is crippled by economic sanctions, the US is seizing the opportunity to advance its agenda in Latin America. Notably, Senior US officials traveled to Venezuela last week to interfere with the relationship between Russia and its Latin American allies. The meeting will likely see both countries condemn Russia for its conduct toward Ukraine. The US will likely leverage its close relationship with Colombia to influence regional policies in the long-term.

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Expect the US and Colombia to stress the importance of bilateral cooperation to mitigate the refugee crisis. The countries will likely reach a bilateral agreement in the short-term for greater financial aid to support Colombia’s TSPV policy and the resettlement of Venezuela.

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