The minister communicates matters related to Colombia's foreign policy to Congress and citizens.

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.

[10] Ten former foreign ministers – Concha, Suárez, Holguín, Olaya Herrera, Santos Montejo, Gómez, Lleras Camargo, Valencia, López Michelsen and Turbay Ayala – have gone on to be elected president.

Others, including Roberto Urdaneta, Noemí Sanín, Carlos Holmes Trujillo and Marta Lucía Ramírez have also campaigned as presidential candidates, before or since .