Argentine FM to visit Colombia amid tense bilateral ties with Petro
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After the expulsion of the Argentine ambassador from Colombia, Argentinian FM Diana Mondino is visiting Colombia to seek ways to mend ties.
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Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino attends a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, February 23, 2024. (AP)
A joint statement released from the Argentine and Colombian foreign ministries revealed that Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino is due to visit Colombia amid strained bilateral ties following recent tensions.
The statement said, "The Colombian Government has instructed Ambassador Camilo Romero to return to Buenos Aires, while giving approval to the new Ambassador proposed by the Argentine Government in Bogota. The Argentine Government, for its part, has announced the visit to Colombia of its Foreign Minister Diana Mondino".
"The Argentine Republic and the Republic of Colombia reaffirm the importance of maintaining stable relations and keep the aim to cement ties, uniting both countries," the statement added.
Milei's CNN interview
The Colombian government instructed the expulsion of all Argentine diplomats from its embassy in Bogota after a CNN interview where Argentine President Javier Milei labeled his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro a "terrorist murderer".
Petro responded by saying that Milei was undermining the Latin American integration project.
Read next: Argentina’s President pledges to move embassy to occupied al-Quds
This came shortly after Petro warned in an X post that his country will sever diplomatic relations with "Israel" if it does not abide by the United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the holy month of Ramadan.
Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alvaro Leyva Duran further stressed that Milei’s remarks against Petro were disrespectful and irresponsible.
En nombre del Gobierno de Colombia, presento mi más enérgica protesta por las irrespetuosas e irresponsables declaraciones del Presidente de la República Argentina, señor Javier Milei, en contra del Presidente @petrogustavo, en el desarrollo de una entrevista con la periodista…
— Álvaro Leyva Durán (@AlvaroLeyva) January 26, 2024
