Israel’s foreign minister has won swift diplomatic concessions from Colombia’s newly inaugurated president, as leading right‑wing figures from across Latin America attended the ceremony that underlined a growing regional shift to the political right.
Rapid restoration of ties and recognition
Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister, attended the inauguration in Cali where the new Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella, delivered a series of pro‑Israel measures within days of taking office. According to reporting, de la Espriella’s administration announced the restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel, pledged to move the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem and recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
The recognition of the Golan Heights makes Colombia, the reporting states, the only country apart from the United States to treat the annexed territory as Israeli sovereign territory. The new Colombian government also plans to withdraw Colombia’s support for South Africa’s genocide proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
High‑profile attendance and international signalling
The inauguration drew senior figures from across the hemisphere. Present were Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa and Chile’s President José Antonio Kast. The presence of these leaders helped frame de la Espriella’s actions as part of a broader regional realignment toward the right.
| Attendees | Role |
|---|---|
| Abelardo de la Espriella | President of Colombia (inaugurated) |
| Javier Milei | President of Argentina |
| Daniel Noboa | President of Ecuador |
| José Antonio Kast | President of Chile |
| Todd Blanche | Leader of US delegation, former lawyer to President Trump |
| Gideon Sa’ar | Israeli foreign minister |
The US delegation was led by Todd Blanche, described in reports as a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump who was awaiting confirmation as US Attorney General.
Public diplomacy and political consequences
From Israel’s perspective, the engagements represented an opportunity to shore up diplomatic support at a time when international sympathy following the attacks of 7 October has waned in several quarters, the reporting suggests. The Colombian moves — immediate and unequivocal — offered a diplomatic gain for Israel amid efforts to stem criticism and isolate initiatives at international courts.
Sa’ar hailed Colombia’s decision as a “historic” act and said it marked a new “golden age in relations between Colombia and Israel.”
Those words were posted on Sa’ar’s social media account, where he also expressed optimism about the bilateral trajectory.
Regional politics and wider implications
Observers cited in the reporting connected de la Espriella’s immediate pro‑Israel gestures to a shifting political map across Latin America, where recent elections have produced multiple right‑leaning governments. The inauguration — and the policy reversals that followed — signal how domestic political change can rapidly reshape foreign policy and international alignments.
- Diplomatic shifts: Colombia restored relations with Israel and said it would move its embassy to Jerusalem.
- Territorial recognition: Colombia recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, joining the United States in that position.
- International law: Colombia intends to withdraw support for South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ.
Each of these steps carries consequences for international diplomacy and for debates inside Colombia about the direction of its foreign policy. They also offer Israel tangible diplomatic successes at a time when its international position is contested. The developments will be watched closely in capitals where judgments on the legality and politics of recognition and embassy location remain contentious.
