Bogota: Colombia’s president is asking for Donald Trump’s support in approving US funding to back the country’s peace deal with leftist rebels.
The request came in a 25-minute phone call yesterday between Trump and President Juan Manuel Santos, the first between the two leaders since the Republican president took office.
The Obama administration laid out a plan of USD 450 million in assistance this year to support peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
But Congress has yet to approve the funds and some conservative US lawmakers are pushing for bigger concessions from the FARC.
According to Santos’ aides, Trump said he was interested in continuing support for Colombia. The U.S. President also invited last year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner to the White House in a future, undisclosed date, aides said.