Colombia

Unlike other countries such as Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil, Colombia has shown a relatively late interest in the internationalization of subnational governments. The central government and academics have historically shown little interest in this area. As a country of regions, Colombia exhibits two distinct types of internationalization. The first type occurs in the country's center and large cities such as Bogotá and Medellín, which have developed planned strategies to build state policies on issues such as environmental protection. The second type involves medium and small cities and border regions, focusing on addressing problems the state has failed to resolve. Examples include the internationalization efforts of Cúcuta, a city bordering Venezuela; the Nariño Global department bordering Ecuador; and Pereira in the coffee region. These cases demonstrate regional paradiplomacy that, while active, remains fragmented and circumstantial, heavily dependent on local capabilities. In their internationalization efforts, both types of paradiplomacy have operated independently of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the Ministry is now beginning to emphasize what it terms “Subnational Diplomacy,” aimed at coordinating with cities to promote international cooperation to foster sustainable and inclusive development. This chapter examines these different types of paradiplomacy, along with their progress and challenges.