The Future of U.S.-Colombia Relations and Priorities

On March 16, 2022, the Meridian Corporate Council hosted a discussion with Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, H.E. Juan Carlos Pinzón. The discussion, hosted by Meridian Corporate Council Member Gilead Sciences, highlighted Colombia’s progress in becoming a regional leader in tech innovation, advancements in cross-sector sustainability and the country’s perspective and actions regarding the invasion of Ukraine.   

H.E. Juan Carlos Pinzón was sworn in as Ambassador of Colombia to the United States on July 26, 2021 by President Iván Duque. Pinzón previously served as Colombia's Ambassador to Washington from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that, Ambassador Pinzón served as Minister of Defense of Colombia for nearly four years.   Additional previous positions include President of ProBogotá, Chief of Staff to the President of Colombia, Deputy Minister of Defense, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at the Board of the World Bank, Vice President of the Colombian Banking Association, Assistant Vice President of Investment Banking at Citigroup, Private Secretary and Chief of Staff for the Finance and Public Credit Ministry, and Economist for Colombia at Citigroup.  H.E. Pinzón received an honorable mention for his outstanding academic performance while earning his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. He also holds three master’s degrees: a master’s in Economics from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a master’s in public policy from Princeton University, and a master’s degree in Defense and National Security from Colombia’s National War College.    

Colombia’s upcoming presidential elections framed the discussion, as many of the surrounding countries have succumbed to authoritarian regimes. The conversation reflected the nation’s steadfast commitment to holding democratic presidential elections, which will take place in the summer of 2022 with a new president sworn in on August 7 2022. Additionally, Ambassador Pinzón emphasized the nation’s work to create investment opportunities across the private sector, as Colombia is increasingly prioritizing capital investment that incentivizes job creation across the nation. With a focus on sustainable enterprise and environmental initiatives, the discussion underscored Colombia’s status as a clean energy country through their set targets surpassing the global standards set across various industries. The program marked 200 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Colombia.