Luis Gilberto Murillo, The Colombian ambassador to the United States spoke to EL TIEMPO regarding different aspects of the relationship between the two nations. One of the main themes was that of migration.
(Read the full interview here: ‘We are working to achieve visa exemption for Colombian tourists’: Murillo)
Recently, Relations between the two nations seem to have entered into relative tension due to two specific episodes: On the one hand, Washington publicly aired its concern regarding the “gradual” program in the eradication of illicit crops that President Petro proposed.
And, as reported by EL TIEMPO, that country also “expressed its discomfort at the government’s decision to prefer France to purchase the planes required to modernize the Air Force and described as “very difficult” the granting of a temporary relief for undocumented Colombian migrants in the US”.
(Also: Ambassador Murillo received US credentials and spoke with President Biden)
This mentioned relief is a request that Murillo has made, however, for Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols, Colombia’s political and security situation is good, and such permission is generally granted to nations in difficult internal situations.
On the other hand, the ambassador explained that great advances have been made regarding the Colombian tourist visas wishing to visit the United States.
On the one hand, Murillo highlighted that the waiting time for the issuance of this document was reduced from 850 to 45 days.
(We recommend: ‘U.S. The US must offer an opportunity to Colombian migrants’: Murillo)
On the other hand, the ambassador highlighted an alleged opening of the American government to obtain a visa exemption for Colombians.
“That has some requirements and we are working to meet them. The Secretary of Internal Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, during his recent visit to Colombia, expressed his openness to moving forward in this process, which is long-term,” Murillo assured EL TIEMPO.
