MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK pledges further financial aid to Colombia

Petro and Cleverly also discussed key regional and international issues

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly Sunday announced in Bogota that his country would commit £ 3.6 million to help the Colombian Government. “From the protection of the Amazon and the fight against climate change to the promotion of peace and security, the United Kingdom wants to be a key partner and friend of Colombia,”

He added that after three days in Colombia, he leaves “more convinced than ever of the value and strength of our long friendship and what we can achieve together in the coming years.”

In his meeting with Petro, the British Foreign Secretary underlined the UK's commitment to peace and security through the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, support for civil society, and in the UN Security Council, of which his country is a permanent member.

In that regard, Cleverly announced that the United Kingdom would allocate another £ 3.6 million to security and peace, as part of the £ 80 million disbursed since the signing of the peace agreement.

On Saturday, during a visit to San José del Guaviare, on the border between the Orinoquia and the Amazon, Cleverly announced that his country would allocate £ 13 million to combat deforestation and other environmental crimes in Colombia.

Colombia and the UK also announced on Sunday the launch of a joint Energy Transition Action Plan to a greener and more sustainable economy, which would allow the two countries to share experiences in areas such as wind energy, green hydrogen, and sustainable infrastructure.

They also pledged to strengthen the reactivation of the railway sector in Colombia through a new institutional alliance.

Petro and Cleverly also discussed key regional and international issues, such as “the shared interest between the UK and Colombia in holding free and fair elections in Venezuela in 2024.” Colombia hosted last April the International Conference on Venezuela's Political Process in which 20 countries, including the United States, participated.

Cleverly also said that “the international response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia” was discussed with the Colombian head of state.