--- title: Interview with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos | TIME description: President Santos discusses Colombia’s social and economic turnaround and relations between South America and the United States canonical: https://time.com/video/oyLjJNLI/ og:title: Interview with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos og:description: President Santos discusses Colombia’s social and economic turnaround and relations between South America and the United States og:url: https://time.com/video/oyLjJNLI/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/oyLjJNLI/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Interview with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos twitter:description: President Santos discusses Colombia’s social and economic turnaround and relations between South America and the United States twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/oyLjJNLI/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # Interview with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: Interview with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos [Watch (HLS stream): Interview with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/oyLjJNLI.m3u8) (6:29)  _Published 2012-04-12. President Santos discusses Colombia’s social and economic turnaround and relations between South America and the United States_ --- Jul 27, 2023 3:23 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos Accepts Nobel Peace Prize as ‘Gift From Heaven’](/video/7Ja4z9Kn/) ### Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos Accepts Nobel Peace Prize as ‘Gift From Heaven’ [Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Wins the Nobel Peace Prize](/video/75RAIA6k/) ### Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Wins the Nobel Peace Prize [Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Talks with TIME](/video/Bd9ROWcv/) ### Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Talks with TIME --- ## Transcript [ BLANK_AUDIO ] How did Colombia make, this kinda of a comeback in such a short time, just a decade, which in the history of the nation is not very, long? How and why was Colombia able to rise from its troubles? Impressive leads you have. Well, we have been for, many year, many decades, been signaled as a non bible state. As the champions of kidnappings, of drug traffic, murders, violation of human rights. And for many years people didn't want to. They didn't come to Columbia, because they were afraid. We've been changing this reality for, for some years now. Perceptions usually follow realities. And, I think today, the world is understanding that Columbia is one of the most dynamic democracies. With, a very dynamic economy. Who would, imagined just a few years ago, that the spreads on our sovereign bonds, would be lower than Japan, Italy, France and competing with the US. this, this is something, completely out of anybody's imagination. But, we, we're able to do this, through perseverance and good politics. there's some in the media and the international and the US diplomatic community. Who see some signs that Colombia and yourself included are in fact distancing themselves from the United States. Do you see that as any way valid? I'm not interested in distancing myself from the US. I, owe and Colombia owes, a tremendous gratitude for all the help the US has given us, my neighbors and the whole of the region, knows my close relation with the US. They accept this. And not only do they accept it, they value it. We see ourselves and we have, we have played that role in being a, a sort of a bridge, between the US and many other countries, which the US has now not a particularly good relationship. Is there anything you think the United States should be doing differently with Latin American States? You know Americans, American media and American Government have noted with, with some alarm, that the United States fear of influence, in South America, seems to be shrieking. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? What America be doing differently?. When you compare the strategic interest of the US in Afghanistan with, what the strategic interest of the US here in Latin America, there's no, no relation. I think the US should value more and appreciate more, and get more interested. Poor, the US own good about the importance of Latin America, a long term strategic interest in the US. The more they look south, the more we will look north. It, it's a, a two way street and I think it's a matter of also. Understanding that we need each other. And that we can, we work together, we can all benefit. Do you worry about this risk that Latin America is relying too much on, commodities, and high commodity prices to fuel its economic boom, and not enough on manufactured. All you added goods and is Columbia apart of that problem too? We are eh, struggling to eh, not have this high dependence on the exports of commodities, we are promoting in manufactured goods, because among other things this is what creates more employment. And the, I think is one of the big challenges that we have. To maintain an equilibrium between we are very rich in, in commodities and energy. But we cannot only depend on that. The [ FOREIGN ] the so called [ FOREIGN ] still in the country. They criticize you for. Having been sort of opportunistic. That, that you were, president of Uribe's defense minister. You were much more conservative. that, that you seemed to show a different, philosophy then, than you do now, that you turned more moderate. How do you respond to their accusation that you are an opportunist? First of all, this is a small minority, that is saying that. 2nd about being conservative, in the ministry of defense. I will simply, do my job. I was not, the social minister. I was not the minister of the interior. I was the defense minister. and the, and modesty apart and I'm sorry to say this, the most successful defense minister this country has had, in the whole 50 years of conflict. No, no member of the secretariat, was neutralized before. If you see what has happened to the Forak and the LN in the last six years, you will, eh, very easily, come to a, a very different conclusion from this small minority of [ FOREIGN ]. Now that Columbia is emerging from its troubles, what sort of model do you see Columbia being for Latin America and the western hemisphere now? What I hope is, is a country that is seen, as a country that respects the basic principles of any democracy and, uh, at the same time is a promoter of the issue that in today's world are becoming more and more important like the environmental issue, like, uh, sustainable development, like , uh, growth with, with equity. But, but, in, in, within this framework. A country that, where people are happy. And fortunately, we are a country where people are again, becoming happy. I consider that, extremely important for any society, to have faith in the future. You must feed. 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