Colombia’s incoming foreign minister has told his Israeli counterpart that the South American country will open an embassy in Jerusalem, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said, fulfilling President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s election pledge.
Israel and Colombia have agreed to fully restore diplomatic and economic relations next month, following the inauguration of the new government, reversing a two-year freeze imposed by outgoing left-wing President Gustavo Petro over the war in Gaza.
The agreement follows a meeting in Washington between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Colombia’s Foreign Minister-designate Omar Bula Escobar.
Relations between Colombia and Israel deteriorated sharply after Petro severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2024 over the Gaza war, which followed the Hamas-led terrorist attack on 7 October 2023. His government also expelled Israeli diplomats from the country.
During his election campaign, De la Espriella pledged to open a Colombian embassy in Jerusalem and renew a strategic alliance with Israel.
He is due to be inaugurated on 7 August.
