During the visit of the General Commander of the Colombian Military Forces, Admiral Francisco Cubides, to Washington, D.C., both countries reaffirmed the importance of joint efforts to enhance regional stability and security.
Washington, D.C., March 8, 2025 – In his first official visit to the United States as General Commander of the Colombian Military Forces, Admiral Francisco Cubides conducted a high-level agenda focused on deepening bilateral cooperation in security and defence. Accompanied by the Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, Daniel García-Peña, Admiral Cubides engaged in a series of strategic meetings with senior U.S. government officials, intelligence and security agencies, and members of Congress, underscoring the shared commitment to tackling transnational threats and enhancing regional security.
Admiral Cubides began his agenda with a meeting with Michael Kozak, Senior Official at the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State, where they discussed joint strategies to confront transnational threats and strengthen regional security.
He later met with Representative Adam Smith Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, to explore mechanisms for enhanced collaboration on national security and defence. Admiral Cubides also held meetings with senior staffers of Representative Mario Díaz-Balart, Chair of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations and Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Jim Risch from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. These discussions focused on progress in bilateral defence and security programmes and on advancing joint efforts to combat transnational organised crime and reinforce regional stability.
The meetings held in Washington reflect the longstanding bipartisan tradition of U.S. support for the bilateral relationship with Colombia—a partnership built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to democratic values. Admiral Cubides and Ambassador García-Peña emphasized that this bilateral agenda reinforces strategic cooperation between both countries, enabling progress on joint solutions to shared challenges in security, defence, and regional stability.
As part of his agenda, Admiral Cubides held a productive meeting with Debbie Seguin, Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). They exchanged views on military actions, outcomes, and ongoing shared challenges in the fight against illicit drug trafficking. The discussion highlighted joint efforts with the United States in interdiction as well as the seizure of chemical precursors, which have contributed to a measurable reduction in cocaine production.
Strategic cooperation was also the focus of the meeting with James Holtsnider, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, where they addressed the strengthening of joint operational capabilities and broader security cooperation across the region.
Admiral Cubides also met with Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of U.S. Southern Command. During the meeting, Admirals Cubides and Holsey reaffirmed the strength and effectiveness of bilateral cooperation and the mutual commitment to reinforcing joint strategies to address regional security challenges.
The visit by Admiral Cubides reaffirmed the firm commitment of the Government of President Gustavo Petro to confronting security and defence challenges, particularly those stemming from transnational criminal organisations. He also underscored Colombia’s role as a strategic partner in managing irregular migration across the hemisphere.