Colombia’s external debt closed 2025 at $246.801 billion, the highest level since records began, according to data published Monday by the Banco de la República. The figure represents 53.8% of GDP — up from 52.7% a year earlier — and exceeds the peak reached during the pandemic. In dollar terms, the stock grew by $25.848 billion over the year, an 11.7% increase driven overwhelmingly by long-term obligations in the public sector. [....]