Colombia officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem on October 14, 2026, reversing a 2024 diplomatic rupture under former President Gustavo Petro. Right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella restored ties and reinstated a bilateral free trade agreement with Israel. Israeli officials hailed the move as a major diplomatic gain, while Palestinian leaders and Saudi Arabia condemned the opening as a violation of international law.
Inauguration of Colombia's embassy in Jerusalem
- ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the October 14, 2026 inauguration of the Colombian embassy in Jerusalem, praising Colombia's stance alongside Israel
- ▪In a recorded message for Colombia's October 14, 2026 Jerusalem embassy opening, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella emphasized future cooperation with Israel in intelligence-sharing, science, and fighting organized crime
- ▪Colombia officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem on October 14, 2026, with an inauguration ceremony attended by Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar
Foreign ministers' meeting
- ▪Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar called Israel a strategic partner and described Colombia's Jerusalem embassy opening as a concrete step toward restoring diplomatic relations
- ▪Bilateral talks between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar focused on security and defense cooperation, political dialogue, and expanding trade and investment opportunities
International condemnation of the embassy opening
- ▪Saudi Arabia stated on October 14, 2026 that Colombia's opening of an embassy in Jerusalem constituted a flagrant violation of international law
- ▪The Palestinian foreign ministry and Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh condemned Colombia's embassy opening in Jerusalem as a violation of international law and international resolutions regarding the city's legal status
Reversal of Gustavo Petro's Israel policies
- ▪Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro severed diplomatic ties with Israel in May 2024, criticized Israel's Gaza campaign, closed the Colombian embassy in Tel Aviv, and halted coal exports to Israel
- ▪Right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella, who assumed office in August 2026, reversed former President Gustavo Petro's 2024 decision to sever diplomatic relations with Israel
- ▪On October 13, 2026, Colombia reinstated its free trade agreement with Israel, which had been suspended by former President Gustavo Petro
De la Espriella foreign policy
- ▪Since taking power in August 2026, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella placed Israeli and United States interests at the center of his foreign policy agenda
- ▪Under President Abelardo de la Espriella, Colombia recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights and recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara
Netanyahu on Latin America
- ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism for a pro-Israel win in Brazil's October 25, 2026 runoff election, where hard-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro led after the first round
- ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the October 14, 2026 opening of Colombia's Jerusalem embassy as a setback for critical left-wing Latin American leaders and highlighted growing pro-Israel sentiment in the region
Global context of embassies in Jerusalem
- ▪Most foreign nations maintain their embassies to Israel in Tel Aviv, holding that Jerusalem's status must be determined through negotiations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- ▪Following the United States' embassy move to Jerusalem in 2018 under President Donald Trump, Colombia became one of a small group of nations—including Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Kosovo, and Somaliland—to open an embassy in Jerusalem
- ▪Argentine President Javier Milei previously pledged to move Argentina's embassy to Jerusalem, but the relocation was delayed over a dispute regarding Israeli economic activities in the Falkland Islands
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