The president of Colombia will visit the White House to meet with President Trump next week, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said.
During the visit, set for Feb. 13, Trump and Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez are expected to discuss “their commitment to pro-growth policies, combatting terrorism and illicit narcotic networks, strategic partnerships in regional security, and efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela,” Sanders said in a statement.
The two leaders are also expected to “build upon the strong partnership that exists between their nations in pursuit of a more prosperous, secure, and democratic Western Hemisphere.”
Trump was previously scheduled to visit Colombia on two separate occasions, though both trips were canceled.
Most recently, the president was expected to visit the South American country Dec. 2 and Dec. 3. Trump was also scheduled to take a trip to Bogota in April as part of a swing through South America, but he ended up sending Vice President Mike Pence instead. At the time, the White House said he decided to remain in Washington to “oversee the American response in Syria and to monitor developments around the world.”
The visit to the White House by Colombia’s president comes after the Trump administration recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president as part of a broader efforts to oust Nicolas Maduro. The president told CBS News in an interview Sunday that use of military force remains an option in Venezuela.
During a White House press briefing last week, during which Trump administration officials announced sanctions on the Venezuela’s state-run oil company, national security adviser John Bolton revealed notes on a yellow notepad that stated “5,000 troops to Colombia.” When asked about the note, the White House reiterated that “all options are on the table.“
