Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, has committed to restoring diplomatic relations with Israel, which were cut under the outgoing administration of President Gustavo Petro due to his criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
On June 25, Mr. de la Espriella — a political newcomer and right-wing candidate who won the second-round election on June 21 — confirmed he had received a congratulatory phone call from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. On social media, he wrote: "Thank you, dear friend. Colombia will restore and strengthen its relationship with the State of Israel like never before. Israel can trust Colombia as a loyal friend and a solid ally. May God bless both our peoples."
For his part, Foreign Minister Saar called Mr. de la Espriella a "true friend of the Jewish people and the State of Israel," expressing hope that the Israel-Colombia alliance would be "stronger than ever."
These statements signal a sharp shift in Colombia's foreign policy. Over the past four years, the government of President Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist leader, has consistently criticized Israel and its close ally the United States for human rights violations, especially after the Gaza war erupted in October 2023.
Mr. Petro was among the first world leaders to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza. In November 2023, he wrote: "That is called genocide. They are doing it to push Palestinians out of Gaza and take the territory for themselves." When Israel's then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called Palestinians "animals," Mr. Petro compared the remark to Nazi hate speech. Israel responded by halting security equipment exports to Colombia and accusing Mr. Petro of anti-Semitism.
More than 73,000 Palestinians are believed to have been killed since the Gaza war began. UN experts have concluded that Israel's methods are "consistent with genocide," while the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Mr. Gallant and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes, including using starvation as a weapon.
Israel-Colombia relations deteriorated rapidly. The Petro administration withdrew its ambassador from Israel in 2023, severed diplomatic ties in May 2024, expelled Israeli diplomats, and ended a free trade agreement in October 2025. Israel had been a key supplier of military equipment, missiles, and weapons to Colombia. Since exports ceased, state-owned military manufacturer Indumil has been developing large-caliber rifles, with mass production expected by the end of 2026.
Mr. Petro's criticism also strained relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom he had existing disagreements over drug and immigration policies. In September 2025, after criticizing Trump's policies at the United Nations, Mr. Petro attended a pro-Palestinian rally in New York. The Trump administration promptly revoked his U.S. visa, calling his actions "reckless and inflammatory."
Mr. de la Espriella's victory marks a turning point. He won a tight race with 49.66% of the vote against 48.7% for leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda, who conceded defeat on June 24, a margin of just 250,830 votes. His party, Homeland Defenders, reaffirmed its commitment to rebuilding alliances with right-wing governments in Israel and the U.S. According to a party statement, Mr. de la Espriella "expressed a willingness to promote the strengthening of the Colombia-U.S. alliance based on shared values of freedom, democracy, and prosperity." His inauguration is expected in August.
