The stated duties of the Minister of Foreign Affairs are to oversee Colombia's foreign service and immigration policy and to manage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The minister must also advise the president on Colombian foreign affairs, such as the appointment of diplomats and ambassadors, informing the president about the removal and revocation of these people. The minister of foreign affairs can conduct negotiations, interpret and rescind treaties related to foreign policy. The minister can also participate in international conferences, organizations and agencies as a representative of Colombia. The minister communicates matters related to Colombia's foreign policy to Congress and citizens. The ministry also provides services to Colombian citizens living or traveling abroad, such as providing credentials in the form of passports. By doing this, the minister also ensures the protection of citizens, their property and interests in foreign countries.[7]
Foreign ministers also have internal responsibilities. Most of the historic internal functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were gradually transferred to other agencies in the late 20th century as part of various administrative reforms and restructuring.[8]Those that remain include the performance of protocol functions for the Casa de Nariño and the writing of certain proclamations. The minister also negotiates with individual states on the extradition of fugitives to foreign countries. According to national law, the powers that he can exercise and that the president grants him are not codified. Consequently, several foreign ministers have served as acting presidents during the president's absence.[9]
As the highest-ranking member of the cabinet, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is the fourth highest-ranking official in the executive branch of the national government of Colombia, after the president, the vice president and the minister of the interior, and is third in line to succeed the presidency, after the vice president. and the
minister of the interior, only being applied in the case that the minister belongs to the same party or political movement of the original president.[10]