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IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO COLOMBIA?
THE CITY PAPER
Richard Emblin - January 15, 2018 The U.S State Department has released its global travel advisory list and as of January 12, Colombia has been up-graded as a Level Two country, where U.S nationals must still “exercise increased caution,” but are free to visit large areas of the country, formally ranked as “no-go-to” zones. Colombia joins Brazil, Belgium, Mexico and Dominican Republic in this tourism-friendly category. (...) Four departments along Colombia’s Caribbean coast are considered safe to visit, such as Bolívar, La Guajira, Magdalena and Atlántico. The advisory states that Highway 90 that unites Cartagena with Barranquilla and Santa Marta is also safe to travel. So, too, most of the interior departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Tolima and Santander. The coffee region’s main highway – Autopista del Café – that connects Armenia in Quindío with Pereira in Risaralda and Manizales in Caldas is also considered a safe transportation corridor. |
U.S. RELATIONS WITH COLOMBIA
U.S. Department of State - August 14, 2018 The United States established diplomatic relations with Colombia in 1822, following its independence from Spain. Colombia is a middle-income country and one of the oldest democracies in Latin America. The United States and Colombia share a commitment to promoting security, prosperity and democratic governance in Colombia and across the Western Hemisphere. With the support of the United States, Colombia has transformed itself over the past 20 years from a fragile state to a vibrant democracy with a growing, market-oriented economy. In 2016, the Government of Colombia signed a peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), ending more than half a century of conflict. The United States strongly supports Colombia’s efforts to secure the just and lasting peace that the Colombian people deserve, and to make the promise of security and economic opportunity a reality for the Colombian people. The United States is committed to cooperation with Colombia to undermine the transnational criminal organizations whose activities, especially narcotrafficking, are devastating to the citizens of Colombia and of the United States. Our efforts focus on boosting licit economic opportunities, developing and improving key infrastructure, and confronting criminal activities, including narcotics production. Our partnership includes collaboration on academic, cultural, and sports exchange programs; and social inclusion initiatives that engage African descendant and Indigenous groups in both countries. |