Former Colombian President Iván Duque will be in charge of research on population displacement, climate crisis and democracy in his new post as a distinguished member of the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.

"We are proud to welcome the Wilson Center and benefit from his ideas and experience," said the director of the organization, Mark Green, in a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 9, announcing the arrival of the former president.

Duque, who on Sunday was replaced by leftist Gustavo Petro, already lived in D.C. when he represented Colombia before the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), between 2001 and 2013.  

The think tank also reported the areas of research for the former president are actions against the climate crisis, the strengthening of democratic values, population displacements and economic progress.

Green said the Colombian conservative "has impressed the world with his leadership on many fronts, from defending democracy to protecting diversity and combating climate change, and his compassion for the millions of Venezuelans who fled tyranny."

In honor of former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921), the Wilson Center is an independent institute that studies national and international affairs that was founded in 1968.

Duque ended his term in office with an approval rating of less than 30%, and was succeeded by Petro, who won June's elections and is the country's first leftist president.

Among the former president's successes are the Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelans and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, while his failures include the implementation of the peace accords and the deterioration of security.