In 2017，the government declared the conflict officially over，and the Santos administration strived to implement peace accords with the former FARC rebels before his term ends. Progress will then hinge on the outcome of the 2018 legislative and presidential elections. The economic slowdown might have bottomed out，the structural deficit target set under the fiscal rule for the central government was achieved，the deficit on current account shrank，and inflationary pressures eased. The economy is expected to make a gradual recovery in 2018. In social terms，violence occurred frequently，poverty remained the major challenge，and protests exerted pressure on the government. In foreign relations，President Santos maintained a cooperative relationship with the Trump administration；ties with Venezuela were strained by border security disputes.