As a strategic hub between Central and South America, between the Caribbean and the Pacific, as well as the most important drug trafficking routes from south to north, Colombia has a small but very agile navy.

The country receives a lot of material support from the USA (guard boats) and South Korea (2 corvettes), as well as operational support from the USA. Germany was actively involved when four frigates were built at HDW in Kiel in the mid-1980s and German naval stocks were reduced after reunification in the 1990s. Today, all of this is "old" material. This is why Colombia is now trying its own hand, albeit based on design and technology from Fassmer in Germany: at the end of July, the "24 de Julio", the first of four planned OPV 93s (POC - Patrullero Oceánico), was christened and launched at COTECMAR in Cartagena de Indias (Caribbean). The main armament of the new 93 metre long and 2,700 tonne displacement guard boats is a 76mm OTO cannon. Ships of this size can achieve a more robust presence in both critical sea areas than the three OPV 80s of the "20 de Julio" class - also built in Cartagena and according to Fassmer's plans - which have also been in service for ten years. As reported in April, the older Almirante Padilla-class frigates are to be replaced from 2030 by national newbuildings (SIGMA 10714) based on plans by Damen and interiors by Saab. Let's hope it stays that way.