Colombia's President-Elect to Open Embassy in Jerusalem to Restore Ties

Colombia’s hardline right-wing president-elect plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem in a bid to restore and strengthen relations with Israel. Relations between Colombia and Israel were severed under the administration of Gustavo Petro.

Abelardo de la Espriella won last month’s presidential runoff by a margin of less than 1% and has pledged to crack down on various armed groups in Colombia, partly by forming military alliances with the United States and Israel.

In 2024, leftist President Gustavo Petro cut ties with Israel, a key security partner for Colombia, over Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

De la Espriella, who was backed by US President Donald Trump, will take office on 7 August and has vowed to restore relations with Israel. His office stated that the incoming administration is proceeding with ‘the opening of the Colombian Embassy in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.’

Israel considers Jerusalem, including the occupied eastern sector, as its capital, a status not widely recognised internationally, with most countries operating their diplomatic missions from Tel Aviv. The United States moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018 during Trump’s first term.

Colombia will also withdraw its support for South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza. Newly appointed Foreign Minister Omar Bula met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Washington on Wednesday, where they agreed on a roadmap to restore diplomatic relations and eliminate travel visas.

‘Historical relations that were unilaterally severed by the Petro administration will be strengthened once again,’ a statement said. Petro had supported the ICJ case while also halting coal exports to and arms imports from Israel. He had also previously stated an intention to open a diplomatic mission in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but the project never materialised.