Colombian Defense Minister Resigns From Cabinet Follows Minister Of Environment To Minister Of Finance

JAKARTA - Colombian Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez withdrew from President Gustavo Petro's cabinet. Velasquez joins the ministers of the environment and domestically out of government.

Petro called on all of its ministers to submit their resignations on Sunday, after a tense televised cabinet meeting last week caused some officials to resign.

"Based on the information circulating in the media, we inform you that Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez has submitted an irreversible resignation from his post," the Colombian Ministry of Defense said on X.

Several ministers and other cabinet members have publicly rejected the appointment of Petro's controversial new adviser, former senator Armando Benedetti, and new foreign minister Laura Sarabia, at a cabinet meeting last week.

Other ministers, including the new finance minister Diego Guevara, have or will submit their 'protocol' resignation.

Petro has previously asked for a mass cabinet resignation to make changes to the government, but has historically kept several ministers in office.

Petro, who is currently visiting Dubai, has not named a replacement minister.