WATCH: Pentagon press secretary John Kirby held a news briefing, discussed Colombian defense minister visit to U.S.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomed Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano to the Pentagon Friday, Molano’s first trip to the U.S. defense headquarters since taking office. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby held a news briefing to share some details about the visit.

Watch the event in the player above.

Austin and Molano reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Colombian strategic security relationship and hailed President Joe Biden’s designation of Colombia as a major non-NATO ally.

“This reflects the depth and breadth of our security relationship, and it reinforces our ironclad defense partnership. And it lays the groundwork for us to work together even more closely to make our neighborhood safer and more prosperous,” Austin said of the designation.

The U.S. Defense Secretary also thanked Molano for Colombia’s “strong condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine” and for Colombia’s offer to provide humanitarian support to the Ukrainian people.

WATCH: Biden invokes Defense Production Act to counter dearth of baby formula

The two leaders also discussed their nation’s shared interest in issues from narcotrafficking to climate change to migration.

Colombia holds its first round of presidential elections on May 29th, as voters choose the successor to President Ivan Duque, who can’t run for reelection due to term limits.

“Our commitment to democracy and the rule of law and protection of human rights and human dignity must remain steadfast,” Austin said.

Press Secretary also shared details about President Joe Biden’s invocation of the Defense Production Act to speed production of infant formula and authorized flights to import supply from overseas, as he faces mounting political pressure over a domestic shortage caused by the safety-related closure of the country’s largest formula manufacturing plant.