Washington (AFP) - President Joe Biden praised the human rights record of Colombian President Gustavo Petro in their first meeting Friday, with the leftist Latin American leader echoing Biden's call for transitioning to a green economy.
Calling Colombia a "key" to the hemisphere, Biden told Petro in the Oval Office that he had been "outspoken and strong" on human rights in a region with a long history of abuses and armed conflict.
"I really want to thank you for your outspoken and strong commitment to peace and human rights," Biden said in brief public remarks before talking behind closed doors with Petro.
The US president highlighted Colombia's welcoming of large numbers of refugees from neighboring Venezuela, whose far-left government has overseen years of economic collapse and violent political tension.
Petro, his country's first leftist president, made no mention in the public segment of his remarks of the crisis in Venezuela, where the United States has tried in vain to oust the far-left leader Nicolas Maduro.
He said that "democracy, freedom and peace" are a "common agenda."
And he emphasized the need for an "in-depth" shift from fossil fuels to a green economy -- something Biden has prioritized during his presidency, with a historic funding bill to encourage climate-friendly technology.
"We have the greatest potential for democracy and freedom in the Americas, as well as the greatest potential for green energies," Petro said.
Petro was elected in June in part of a wave of left-leaning leaders to win power in Latin America.
Petro has sought to shift away from longstanding US-backed policies in Colombia including by moving away from a military-led campaign against the narcotics industry.He has also pursued diplomacy with Venezuela, where his predecessor formerly worked alongside Washington to try and topple Maduro.
Colombia's presidential office said the visit to the White House was "a milestone in consolidating the relationship between Colombia and the United States in this new moment."
"Colombia and Colombia’s future, their security and their prosperity remains a national security interest in the United States," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
