Miami Group Dinner with Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos

By Landen Romei
July 29, 2008

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At an off-the-record Miami Group dinner in exclusive Miami Beach, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos addressed over forty of Miami’s finest leaders from a variety of sectors.  

Juan Manuel Santos has been a key decision maker for some time. He previously served as Minister of Finance and as Minister of Foreign Trade.

Minister Santos began with praise for the Uribe administration’s ability to establish democratic security through legitimizing Colombian institutions. He cited a series of impressive statistics, showing how security has increased throughout Uribe’s tenure as president. He proceeded with an entertaining play-by-play of the recent hostage release, treating his audience to an informal backstage glimpse of what has become one of the biggest blows to the FARC in their forty years of existence.

Minister Santos reminded us that the FARC is weakened but not defeated and that the guerrillas will either lay dormant for years or dissipate depending on the next actions by the Colombian government.

Responding to questions from our guests, Minister Santos discussed Colombian foreign relations with Venezuela, Ecuador, France, Cuba, Spain and the United States.

This event, as part of the burgeoning Miami Group, convened leaders in business, civil service, and academics. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Beatrice Rangel, our guests dined as they listened to Minister Santos’ comments with a backdrop of the Miami cityscape at sunset.