Germany and Colombia enjoy friendly relations. Political dialogue, the German business community, academia, the cultural scene and development cooperation all play a part in fostering close ties between the two countries.

With a trade volume of 3.4 billion euro (2024 figures), Germany is Colombia’s most important trading partner within the EU and the fifth-largest trading partner in the world based on export of goods to Colombia. The German-Colombian Chamber of Industry and Commerce has over 300 members.

Development policy cooperation focuses on the following areas: peace and societal cohesion, including migration, on climate and energy, as well as on the environment and natural resources, in particular the protection of forests and biodiversity. In 2023, Germany and Colombia concluded an Alliance for the climate and a just energy transition. This engagement is supplemented with funding for German NGOs and their local partners, in particular with regard to promoting access to land and health, as well as the advancement of women.

Germany is providing humanitarian assistance for people affected by the internal conflict and for refugees from Venezuela. In the sphere of humanitarian mine and ordnance clearance, assistance is aimed at expanding civilian capacities, investigating contamination, performing mine clearance, as well as supporting mine victims and raising awareness of the risks.

Germany actively supported the peace process with the former guerrilla group FARC from the outset, both at national level and in the regions. From 2022, Germany was involved in peace talks with the ELN guerrilla group as an accompanying country. These have, however, been suspended since summer 2024.

Furthermore, Germany is supporting institutions which are helping to strengthen civil society work with a view to fostering peace in Colombia.

Academic relations between the two countries are close, as demonstrated by some 3700 Colombians studying at German universities, as well as by 285 higher education cooperation projects, by researcher exchanges and by cooperation in the sphere of scholarship programmes.

The main pillars of academic relations are the Centre of Excellence in Marine Sciences (CEMarin), the German-Colombian Peace Institute (CAPAZ) and the TRAJECTS Global Climate and Environment Centre.

Information about German development cooperation with Colombia can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.