Colombia to sign maritime baseline decree for San Andrés archipelago on November 30

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced he will sign and issue a decree on November 30 to establish the maritime baseline lines of the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina archipelago. The measure seeks to define and publish the official coordinates of the Colombian reef territory and strengthen maritime sovereignty policy.

The president made the announcement during a speech from a National Navy vessel in Colombian Caribbean waters. He said the decision addresses a historical debt to the archipelago and reinforces the state's presence in this strategic area.

“Colombia is not a country with a sea, Colombia is a country of the sea that for a century was governed from the mountain range, with its back to its coast. That era is over.”

De la Espriella recalled that Law 10 of 1978 ordered the establishment of baseline lines used as a reference to measure maritime spaces. While continental baselines were drawn in 1984, those for the archipelago remained pending.

The decree will allow reef formations to be measured and mapped with official coordinates in accordance with Colombian legislation and applicable provisions of international law. The president reiterated that Colombia exercises sovereignty over San Andrés, Providencia, Santa Catalina and the other islands and keys of the archipelago.

He stated that Colombia will not yield a nautical mile, a reef, or abandon its fishermen. The government will also seek bilateral agreements with other states to resolve matters through diplomatic cooperation.

El Universal reported that the measure coincides with San Andrés' birthday and is part of a strategy to strengthen maritime sovereignty, combat illegal activities and promote the region's economic development. The outlet also said the president denounced alleged irregularities in health services, including abandoned high-tech medical equipment, parallel payrolls and allegedly directed cleaning and radiology contracts linked to people connected to the governor's office.