Last week, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), alongside Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH), visited Colombia as part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation trip. Both senators, the first Colombian Americans in the U.S. Senate, had a full agenda aimed at discussing key issues such as organized crime, the business climate, and China’s growing presence in the region, according to the Senator Ruben Gallego Official Website.
During their stay, the senators met with President Petro and addressed the critical topic of Colombia's management of coca production. Senator Gallego expressed concern over the prospect of descertification by the U.S. government, which could potentially heighten unemployment and bolster criminal enterprises. "En mi opinión, Colombia sufrirá más si le quitamos la certificación porque tendrá más personas desempleadas y entonces los narcos y el crimen tendrán más gente que quiera trabajar para ellos," he said in a statement obtained by La W Radio. He suggested giving Colombia a year to change course before making a final decision on certification, as stated by the Senator Ruben Gallego news release.
Addressing the recent assassination of Miguel Uribe, Gallego stressed the importance of safety for Colombian politicians and voters alike, particularly in the lead-up to elections. "La preocupación es que muchos de los políticos que quieren hacer campaña (en 2026) no van a tener la oportunidad de salir a hablar con el pueblo y eso, en mi opinión, es malo para la democracia," Senator Ruben Gallego told Noticias Caracol.
On the subject of bilateral relations, the senators highlighted the solid relationship between the two countries and discussed the advantages of tariff benefits. As stated by the Senator Ruben Gallego in an interview with EFE, "Es importante que el Gobierno de Colombia nos enseñe que sí quiere hacer algo con la coca… Es mejor no hacer la descertificación, que le demos un año para que (Colombia) pueda cambiar el curso y podamos averiguar si mejoraron la situación."
Regarding Venezuela, Gallego made it clear that the U.S. is not seeking a military solution or supporting a coup. "No queremos que Colombia vaya a guerra por nosotros con Venezuela… Yo no quiero nada hacer con un golpe de Estado en Venezuela," he emphasized in an interview with La FM. Echoing this sentiment, additional coverage by Forbes Colombia outlined discussions on economic, trade, security issues, and the narcotics trade between Senators and President Petro, as per the Senator Ruben Gallego.
