Colombia and Japan to Reactivate Economic Partnership Talks Led by Laura Sarabia Amid Investigation of Armando Benedetti from May 2023

Colombia and Japan are set to reactivate talks aimed at finalizing an economic partnership agreement, as announced by Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia. This initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen ties with Asian nations, particularly China and Japan, which have shown significant interest in Colombia. Sarabia's announcement coincided with her visit to Japan, where she emphasized the potential for Colombia and Japan to become strategic allies. Meanwhile, Sarabia has also been involved in a separate investigation, having submitted audio recordings and conversations with Interior Minister Armando Benedetti to the authorities. These recordings are expected to shed light on new developments regarding the financing of the presidential campaign, particularly in relation to a previous scandal involving Benedetti and a polygraph test scandal from May 2023.