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US, Colombia Sign Twin Pacts on Critical Minerals, Nuclear Cooperation
(MENAFN) The United States and Colombia formalized two strategic memorandums of understanding Tuesday during a signing ceremony in the coastal city of Barranquilla, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella, and Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar.
The first agreement lays out a framework for the two governments to secure supply chains tied to the mining and processing of critical minerals and rare earth elements. The second focuses on strategic cooperation in civil nuclear energy.
Following the signing, Rubio praised De La Espriella as a leader defined by "energy, strength, vision and courage," pointing out that the new administration had taken office amid steep challenges — including recovery from a recent earthquake and what he called an "institutional" crisis left behind by prior leadership that had strained ties between the two countries.
"The last four years have been an aberration between our governments, but that is changing as well," he said.
"We believe we have a lot we can do together in the field of energy, in the field of trade, in the field of commerce that allows both countries to benefit."
The agreements followed a bilateral meeting that began soon after Rubio's arrival in Barranquilla, with discussions centered largely on private-sector investment in energy, logistics, and transportation infrastructure.
De La Espriella pointed to the choice of Barranquilla — rather than the capital — as both symbolically and practically significant, reflecting his administration's push toward decentralized governance.
"Today, Barranquilla served as the backdrop for a strategic conversation about the present and future of Colombia and our relationship with the United States," he said. "Welcoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio carries special meaning. Barranquilla has historically been Colombia's golden window to the world. It reflects an absolute conviction of my government that Colombia is not governed from Bogota, but from its regions."
The Colombian leader also thanked the US for humanitarian aid delivered after a destructive earthquake recently struck the country, saying that disaster relief efforts had helped lay the groundwork for closer strategic ties.
The resulting "Barranquilla Accords" lay out a three-pillar bilateral agenda centered on rebuilding infrastructure, speeding post-disaster economic recovery, and deepening security cooperation across the Americas.
"From this meeting has emerged a roadmap around three major themes of substantial importance for our country and the hemisphere: rebuilding the nation, recovering the economy, and safeguarding the hemisphere," De La Espriella said.
"Another important point is shared prosperity. I have proposed to Mr. Secretary that we consolidate a bilateral prosperity dialogue featuring concrete projects, responsibility, financing and schedules, the work on which our teams will continue in Washington. Together with the Secretary of Energy, we identified opportunities in infrastructure, technology, industry, reconstruction and critical minerals, such as the agreement just signed," he added.
Asked whether Colombia's push to have US tariffs lifted came up during the talks, Rubio explained that a US Supreme Court ruling striking down the tariff mechanism originally used by President Donald Trump had forced the administration to reinstate tariffs through the Section 301 process — a route that requires a bilateral agreement.
"The president of the United States has a desire to reach an agreement with Colombia as soon as possible. Ambassador (Jamieson) Greer has been working with Colombian authorities on that negotiation. I think it's going very well, and I hope to have good news soon in regards to that once such an agreement can be reached," Rubio told reporters.
"I think there's been two rounds of that discussion, and good progress is being made, but obviously no announcement today," he added.
The first agreement lays out a framework for the two governments to secure supply chains tied to the mining and processing of critical minerals and rare earth elements. The second focuses on strategic cooperation in civil nuclear energy.
Following the signing, Rubio praised De La Espriella as a leader defined by "energy, strength, vision and courage," pointing out that the new administration had taken office amid steep challenges — including recovery from a recent earthquake and what he called an "institutional" crisis left behind by prior leadership that had strained ties between the two countries.
"The last four years have been an aberration between our governments, but that is changing as well," he said.
"We believe we have a lot we can do together in the field of energy, in the field of trade, in the field of commerce that allows both countries to benefit."
The agreements followed a bilateral meeting that began soon after Rubio's arrival in Barranquilla, with discussions centered largely on private-sector investment in energy, logistics, and transportation infrastructure.
De La Espriella pointed to the choice of Barranquilla — rather than the capital — as both symbolically and practically significant, reflecting his administration's push toward decentralized governance.
"Today, Barranquilla served as the backdrop for a strategic conversation about the present and future of Colombia and our relationship with the United States," he said. "Welcoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio carries special meaning. Barranquilla has historically been Colombia's golden window to the world. It reflects an absolute conviction of my government that Colombia is not governed from Bogota, but from its regions."
The Colombian leader also thanked the US for humanitarian aid delivered after a destructive earthquake recently struck the country, saying that disaster relief efforts had helped lay the groundwork for closer strategic ties.
The resulting "Barranquilla Accords" lay out a three-pillar bilateral agenda centered on rebuilding infrastructure, speeding post-disaster economic recovery, and deepening security cooperation across the Americas.
"From this meeting has emerged a roadmap around three major themes of substantial importance for our country and the hemisphere: rebuilding the nation, recovering the economy, and safeguarding the hemisphere," De La Espriella said.
"Another important point is shared prosperity. I have proposed to Mr. Secretary that we consolidate a bilateral prosperity dialogue featuring concrete projects, responsibility, financing and schedules, the work on which our teams will continue in Washington. Together with the Secretary of Energy, we identified opportunities in infrastructure, technology, industry, reconstruction and critical minerals, such as the agreement just signed," he added.
Asked whether Colombia's push to have US tariffs lifted came up during the talks, Rubio explained that a US Supreme Court ruling striking down the tariff mechanism originally used by President Donald Trump had forced the administration to reinstate tariffs through the Section 301 process — a route that requires a bilateral agreement.
"The president of the United States has a desire to reach an agreement with Colombia as soon as possible. Ambassador (Jamieson) Greer has been working with Colombian authorities on that negotiation. I think it's going very well, and I hope to have good news soon in regards to that once such an agreement can be reached," Rubio told reporters.
"I think there's been two rounds of that discussion, and good progress is being made, but obviously no announcement today," he added.
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