Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone this afternoon with Colombian Minister of National Defense Iván Velásquez to reaffirm the importance of the defense relationship between our two countries.
The leaders discussed their shared interest in deepening cooperation on strategic issues including international security cooperation, counternarcotics, peace agreement implementation, and the humanitarian impacts related to regional migration. They affirmed the importance of working together on the basis of strengthening transparency and respect for human rights.
Secretary Austin congratulated Colombia on its advances as a Major Non-NATO Ally and expressed his appreciation for Colombia's contributions to international and regional security.