Environment minister Susana Muhamad hosted last year's UN COP16 conference on biodiversity in the city of Cali and was generally viewed as a capable pair of hands in the erratic Petro's left-wing government.

Her resignation comes five days after Petro, who recently engaged US President Donald Trump in a standoff over migrant deportation flights, subjected his cabinet to a bizarre, five-hour public dressing down on state TV.

The highly unpopular Petro, Colombia's first-ever leftist president, accused several officials including his trade, education and health ministers of falling behind on the delivery of key projects.

Muhamad was one of the few to earn his praise.

Several ministers have complained about the presence at the meeting of Armando Benedetti, one of Petro's closest aides, who is being investigated over illegal campaign financing during Petro's 2022 election race and who has been accused by his ex-wife of domestic abuse.

The day after the cabinet meeting, culture minister Juan David Correa resigned, as did Jorge Rojas, the head of the state agency DAPRE, which manages large amounts of state funds.

Muhamad told the online channel Los Danieles that her decision to quit was "difficult" and said it was motivated by Benedetti's involvement in the running of the state.

During Tuesday's meeting she had complained "as a feminist and a woman" against his presence.

Muhamad has been one of the stars of Petro's administration at a time when he is seeking to claim a leading role in global climate diplomacy.

She had been touted as a possible candidate to succeed Petro when his term ends in 2026.