Colombia’s President-Elect: "Israel Can Count on Us as a Loyal Friend"

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke today (Wednesday) with Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, and congratulated him on his election victory. During the conversation, the president-elect expressed full commitment to strengthening ties with Israel, saying that "Colombia will restore and strengthen its relations with the State of Israel like never before."

De la Espriella declared that "Israel can count on Colombia as a loyal friend and steadfast ally." According to him, that commitment was already evident during his country’s election campaign, and not only after the victory.

During the conversation, Sa’ar noted that de la Espriella’s victory "inspires hope" for Colombia’s future and for its citizens, and wished him success in his new role. The foreign minister emphasized Israel’s desire to deepen cooperation: "Our strong desire is to firmly establish the alliance between the countries for the benefit of both peoples."

At the end of the conversation, Sa’ar added: "We will do this together, Colombia and Israel, and in a big way." Both sides agreed to continue strengthening the diplomatic and strategic ties between Jerusalem and Bogotá.

The conversation between Sa’ar and de la Espriella comes during a complicated period in Israel-Colombia relations. Colombia’s outgoing president, Gustavo Petro, has taken hostile positions toward Israel in recent years, including diplomatic steps that weighed on the relationship between the two countries. De la Espriella’s victory signals a fundamental change in that approach.