Colombia Restores Diplomatic Ties With Israel Under New President

President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella has committed to restoring Colombia's diplomatic ties with Israel, marking a sharp departure from the policies of the current administration. This pledge follows a period of significant strain that began under President Gustavo Petro, whose left-wing government severed relations over alleged human rights abuses in Gaza. On Wednesday, de la Espriella confirmed receiving a congratulatory call from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, signaling an immediate thaw in bilateral relations.

In a social media exchange, the incoming leader expressed deep gratitude, stating that Colombia would strengthen its alliance with Israel like never before. He described Israel as a loyal friend and steadfast ally, invoking divine blessing for both nations. Foreign Minister Saar reciprocated these sentiments, labeling de la Espriella a true friend of the Jewish people and expressing hope for a stronger future partnership. These public declarations indicate a decisive reversal in the foreign policy direction that had been established in recent years.

For the last four years, Colombia has been led by President Petro, the nation's first left-wing head of state. Since taking office in 2022, Petro has been vocal in his criticism of Israel and its ally, the United States, regarding alleged human rights violations. This criticism intensified dramatically after the war in Gaza commenced in October 2023, leading Petro to become one of the first world leaders to accuse Israel of genocide. In November 2023, he explicitly stated that the conflict was intended to drive Palestinians out of Gaza and seize the territory for themselves.

Petro further condemned the head of state committing these acts as a criminal against humanity, arguing that allies could not speak of democracy under such circumstances. His rhetoric drew international attention and controversy, particularly after he compared remarks by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to hateful Nazi ideology. When Gallant described those in Gaza as "human animals," Petro posted that such language was historically used against Jews and warned that continued hate speech could lead to a holocaust.

Israel responded to these statements by halting security exports to Colombia and denouncing the remarks as anti-Semitic. Concurrently, reports indicate that more than 73,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, a figure supported by United Nations experts who found Israeli methods consistent with genocide. These findings include intentional attacks on civilians, strikes against aid workers, and efforts to level civilian infrastructure such as water and sanitation systems. In 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding war crimes including the use of starvation as a method of warfare.

As the death toll in Gaza continued to rise, diplomatic relations between the two nations unraveled quickly. Petro's administration withdrew Colombia's ambassador to Israel in 2023, followed by a complete severance of diplomatic ties by May 2024. By October 2025, the administration had expelled Israeli diplomats and terminated the existing free trade agreement. Those decisions were not without consequences for Colombia, as the isolation impacted trade and security cooperation with key regional and global partners. The election of de la Espriella now signals a potential return to closer engagement with these powers, fundamentally altering the geopolitical landscape for South America.

Colombia continues its sixty-year internal struggle, originating in the 1960s, as the state engages multilaterally against criminal syndicates, left-wing insurgents, and right-wing paramilitary groups. Israel previously served as a primary supplier of military hardware and security technology, including missiles and firearms, to the Colombian government. Following the cessation of these exports, the national manufacturer Indumil has initiated domestic production of military-grade rifles, with mass production scheduled for late 2026.

President Gustavo Petro's critiques of Israel have exacerbated existing tensions with his American counterpart, Donald Trump. Since Trump resumed office for a second term in 2025, the two leaders have clashed over diverse issues ranging from drug policy to immigration. However, diplomatic friction intensified regarding Israel specifically. Last September, after criticizing Trump's policies at the United Nations General Assembly, Petro participated in a Palestinian solidarity demonstration in New York City.

Subsequently, the Trump administration revoked Petro's visa to enter the United States, labeling his actions as reckless and incendiary. The victory of Federico de la Espriella in this year's presidential election signals a potential pivot in Colombia's relations with both nations. Petro faced term limits preventing re-election, while his party's nominee, Senator Ivan Cepeda, lost a close run-off. With 99.99 percent of ballots counted, de la Espriella secured 49.66 percent of the vote against Cepeda's 48.7 percent.

The left-wing senator conceded on Tuesday after a margin of just 250,830 votes separated the candidates. With de la Espriella's inauguration scheduled for August, his party, Defenders of the Homeland, has reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding alliances with right-wing governments in Israel and the United States. In a statement, the party noted that de la Espriella has expressed readiness to strengthen the alliance between Colombia and the United States based on shared values of freedom, democracy, and prosperity.