Colombia's new president recognizes Israel's claim to Golan Heights

Colombia's newly appointed president, Abelardo de la Espriella, and his administration have officially recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. This decision marks a significant shift in the country's foreign policy, aligning Colombia with the United States, the only other nation to acknowledge Israel's annexation of the strategically important territory.

The Colombian government issued a statement on social media platform X, declaring, "Colombia's government recognizes Israeli sovereignty over this territory as well as this state's right to protect itself from external threats." President de la Espriella, who assumed office on Friday, represents a strong right-wing stance and maintains close ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

This recognition directly contrasts with the policies of de la Espriella's left-wing predecessor, Gustavo Petro. Petro had been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, leading to the severance of diplomatic relations and a halt in Israeli arms imports to Colombia. De la Espriella, a millionaire with U.S. backing, has pledged to restore bilateral ties.

The United Nations continues to maintain that the Golan Heights are Syrian territory, occupied militarily by Israel since 1967 and annexed in 1981. The U.S. recognized the area as Israeli in 2019 during Trump's presidency. De la Espriella's administration's move signals a significant realignment of Colombia's international relationships, particularly concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Colombia's government recognizes Israeli sovereignty over this territory as well as this state's right to protect itself from external threats.