FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reps. Green and Sires Celebrate 200 Years of US-Colombia Relations

WASHINGTON–On the 200th anniversary of the U.S. House of Representatives formally recognizing the independence of Colombia and allocating funds to initiate diplomatic relations, Congressman Mark Green (R-TN) and Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), Ranking Member and Chair respectively of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, issued the following statement:

“Colombia is one of the United States’ most important allies in the Western Hemisphere. Over the last two hundred years, Colombia has repeatedly been there for the United States, fighting alongside the Allies in World War II and working with the United States to advance democracy and the rule of law globally. The United States has worked jointly with Colombia in their successful efforts over the last two decades to reduce violence, expand economic opportunity, build state capacity and tackle the scourge of drug trafficking. Colombia today is one of the strongest democracies in the hemisphere and the United States’ most reliable security partner. And Colombia has led the way in welcoming Venezuelans fleeing the Maduro dictatorship. Today we celebrate two hundred years of bilateral relations and we recommit ourselves, on a bipartisan basis, to working even harder to further strengthen this vital partnership.”

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