Colombia Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia Quits Amid Passport Contract Clash

21 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated Jul 3, 2025, 01:47 PM

Colombia’s foreign minister Laura Sarabia stepped down on 3 July, presenting a letter to President Gustavo Petro in which she said that “in the last few days decisions have been taken that I do not share and, out of personal coherence and institutional respect, I cannot accompany.” She called the move the result of “a deep reflection” and wished the administration a successful end to its term.

Sarabia, 31, had been one of Petro’s closest confidants since his 2022 inauguration and was sworn in as foreign minister on 29 January 2025. Her resignation follows an internal clash over how Colombia will issue passports once the current contract expires. Sarabia favored extending the agreement with private firm Thomas Greg & Sons for about 11 months, arguing the state-run Imprenta Nacional was not yet ready. The presidency—backed by newly appointed private secretary Alfredo Saade—opted instead to shift production to the Imprenta, which plans to work with the Casa de la Moneda de Portugal beginning 1 September.

The departure leaves Petro searching for his fourth foreign minister in less than three years and underscores persistent friction within the cabinet over procurement policy. Sarabia’s exit echoes the earlier removal of Álvaro Leyva, the government’s first top diplomat, who was suspended amid a similar dispute over the passport contract. The administration has not yet named a replacement.

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#Colombia #Laura Sarabia #Gustavo Petro #Sarabia #Petro #Imprenta Nacional #Alfredo Saade #Imprenta #Álvaro Leyva

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Sources

elpais.com(3)bloomberg.com(2)esrt.space(2)elespectador.com(2)

Noticias Caracol

@NoticiasCaracol

Julián Silva, president of the Diplomatic and Consular Association of Colombia, said that the resignation of Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia generates “surprise and concern”, as the official had been accompanying the technical teams with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to set up

BioBioChile

@biobio

Colombian Foreign Minister resigns amid controversy with Petro over passports

EL PAÍS América

@elpais_america

Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia resigns from Petro's Government Sarabia, who was the Colombian president's right hand man, retires after a disagreement with the presidency over a contract for the issuance of passports Via @ElPaisAmericaCo