The administration of Abelardo de la Espriella took decisions in the first days of his presidential term, which began on August 7, that changed Colombia’s policy toward Israel. Bogotá recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, occupied Syrian territory, while also beginning preparations to reopen its embassy in Jerusalem.
Colombia became the second country after the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Experts said the move conflicts with international law, United Nations Security Council resolutions and the UN Charter.
Bogotá shifts its Jerusalem policy
In line with a campaign pledge, De la Espriella announced in a video message that Colombia would reopen its embassy in Jerusalem. Israel considers Jerusalem its capital, but the city’s status remains disputed, and most countries do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over all of Jerusalem.
The administration also froze a separate plan launched by former President Gustavo Petro in October 2023 to open an embassy in Palestine. The Colombian administration said the mission had never become operational.
Colombia recognized Palestine as a free, independent and sovereign state in August 2018. The decision came before the new wave of recognition by Western countries that began with Spain, Ireland and Norway in 2024 and continued with France and the United Kingdom in 2025.
Visa and trade measures
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the Golan Heights decision in a video message and thanked De la Espriella. Colombia appointed Tania Gilinski as its ambassador to Israel, while Israel appointed Vivian Aisen as its representative to Colombia.
The two countries agreed to introduce reciprocal visa-free travel for their citizens. The arrangement will begin on September 1. In addition, the Colombia-Israel Binational Economic Commission was established, and a Colombian delegation is scheduled to travel to Israel in October.
The Bogotá administration took steps to resume coal exports to Israel, which had been halted during Gustavo Petro’s presidency. The De la Espriella government also began the process of withdrawing Colombia’s previous intervention in South Africa’s application before the International Court of Justice in the genocide case concerning Gaza.
Experts point to alignment with Washington
Arlene Beth Tickner, a former Colombian representative to the UN and ambassador, said the policy shift was driven primarily by an aim to demonstrate loyalty and closeness to the US government rather than by Israel itself. Glaeldys Gonzalez, the International Crisis Group’s Colombia expert, said describing the developments as a complete transformation could exaggerate the picture.
Gonzalez said the ideological affinity arising from De la Espriella’s defense of “Judeo-Christian values” and a security agenda focused on combating drug trafficking had influenced his approach. Israel and the United States are seen as partners in the military campaign against armed groups and drug gangs.
According to Gonzalez, the areas likely to gain prominence as relations revive include military equipment, security technologies, air defense systems to counter the growing use of drones by armed and criminal organizations, and artificial intelligence applications. She also viewed recognition of the Golan Heights as part of Colombia’s broader effort to align more closely with Washington’s foreign policy line.
Mariano Aguirre Ernst, an expert at Chatham House, said the speed of the decision pointed to alignment with the Trump administration and carried a message for conservative political circles, the private sector and the military in Colombia. Ernst described the development as a rebuilding of the political, commercial, military and intelligence ties that had become complicated during the Petro administration.
Legitimacy and economic implications for Israel
Daniel Wajner, a faculty member at the Hebrew University, said another country’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty carried practical weight in addition to symbolic value. Wajner said Colombia viewed Tel Aviv as a bridge in its effort to move closer to Washington and that the position recalled the policy pursued during Álvaro Uribe’s presidency in the 2000s.
Wajner said the Israeli administration wanted to show that it could maintain relations with countries around the world at a time when it faced criticism, boycotts and sanctions. Tickner argued that relations with Israel could be intended to offset reputational damage caused by its actions in Gaza and the occupied territories.
Experts said Israel’s strategy in Latin America had a long history based on military cooperation, intelligence and the sale of cybersecurity technologies. They said this cooperation had previously included support used by Colombia’s security forces in their fight against left-wing guerrilla groups such as FARC and ELN.
Warnings over the Golan decision
Arlene Beth Tickner described the decision on the Golan Heights as a clear violation of international law. She warned that the move could cause serious harm to Colombia and the country’s interests, contrary to the reputational gains De la Espriella was seeking.
Tickner said expanding security cooperation could draw Colombia into joint US operations involving Israel and increase the US-Israeli military presence in the region.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on the day the decision was announced. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands were injured. Experts said the development shifted public attention from foreign policy to rescue efforts.
Ernst interpreted De la Espriella’s approach as part of a broader political line used by far-right governments in the United States and Europe. Gonzalez and Ernst expect Colombia-Israel relations to return to their traditional course. Ernst also described the rupture during the Petro administration as an exception unlikely to be repeated unless the country turns left again in the future.
