February 9th, 2024
Statement
Statement by H.E. Luis Gilberto Murillo Urrutia, Ambassador of Colombia to the United States and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
With a profound sense of responsibility, I have accepted President Gustavo Petro's appointment as Acting Foreign Minister. I am deeply grateful for the trust President Gustavo Petro has placed in me, and I will work to further advance Colombia's foreign policy priorities while serving in this post.
Today, Colombia is in a stronger position on the international stage, and Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva deserves high praise for this outcome. I will be guided by our nation's foreign policy principles, rooted in defending democracy, protecting human rights, and advancing opportunity for all people in Colombia and across the diaspora.
In this new role, I will remain focused on advancing President Petro's Total Peace agenda, deepening international cooperation and partnering with our neighbors across the hemisphere and allies globally to ensure safer approaches to migration, facilitate international trade, and rally support and lead actions to combat the climate crisis.
I am grateful for this opportunity to serve all Colombians and contribute to President Petro's transformative global agenda for peace and justice.
