The U.S. ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, said Tuesday that relations between the two countries will not be affected by the ongoing U.S. presidential election.

For Washington, developing ties with Bogota is a state policy, while the result of the U.S. presidential election would have nothing to do with Colombia, Brownfield told the media.

Brownfield expressed confidence that the next U.S. administration will make it a priority to ratify the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia.

The FTA "is of national interest for both countries and that is not going to change," he added.

U.S. Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican rival John McCain are locked in a presidential race. The winner will take office on Feb. 20 next year for a term of four years.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2008)