WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), one of the first two Colombian Americans ever elected to the U.S. Senate, spoke with Colombian President Gustavo Petro during a bipartisan meeting alongside Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-08).
“My Colombian roots taught me the value of hard work and resilience, and they drive me now to protect the important relationship between the United States and Colombia. Our countries share a long history built on mutual respect and cooperation that I am committed to building on.
“I have continuously pushed President Petro on making sure that Colombia combats illicit drug trafficking. Today I spoke to him about the importance of ensuring economic prosperity so that young men in Colombia are not driven to join the cartels in order to make a living. I also underlined the importance of North-South economic integration, especially in the face of rising threats from China.
“As Colombians prepare to head to the ballot box this coming year to elect a new congress and president, I continue to urge officials to ensure that these are free and fair elections.
“The United States is safer when we have strong relationships with our partners in the Western Hemisphere. Bullying and threatening our allies does not make anyone safer or freer. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the bilateral relationships between our two countries.”
In August, Senator Gallego travelled to Colombia as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation trip, where he met with President Petro, members of the Colombian Congress, Colombian mayors and business leaders, and the candidates for Colombia’s 2026 presidential elections.
Following Trump’s military action in Venezuela, Senator Gallego, an Iraq veteran, highlighted the parallels between the administration’s military actions in Venezuela and the lead up to the war in Iraq. He also introduced a War Powers Resolution in December to block further military action in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean.