Colombian foreign minister resigns amid passport printing row

FILE PHOTO: Colombian Foreign Minister visits China
FILE PHOTO: Colombia's Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia attends a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China May 12, 2025. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Pool/File Photo
Source: REUTERS

By Luis Jaime Acosta

Colombia's Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia announced her resignation on Thursday, amid a row engulfing President Gustavo Petro's government over the printing of national passports.

Sarabia had expressed dissatisfaction with the government's decision to alter a previous passport printing agreement.

"In the last few days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with," Sarabia wrote in a post on X, adding that she had decided to resign out of "personal integrity and institutional respect."

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Sarabia, who had previously served as Petro's chief of staff, was named the South American country's top diplomat by the leftist president in January.

"I wish Laura Sarabia the best of luck," Petro said in a post on X, in which he called her a vital member of his campaign, praising her firmness and discipline.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.