Colombia's President-elect to cut ties with Cuba, Nicaragua and close embassies

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella has declared his intention to break diplomatic relations with Cuba and Nicaragua shortly after assuming office on August 7. The right-wing hardliner stated on social media that his administration will not maintain any ties with "tyrannies."

Beyond severing ties with Havana and Managua, de la Espriella announced a significant reduction in Colombia's diplomatic footprint abroad. Fifteen consulates and 14 embassies in various countries, including Algeria, Haiti, Barbados, Hungary, Senegal, Ethiopia, and South Africa, are slated for closure. While these closures do not signify a complete diplomatic break, arrangements will be made for Colombian citizens to be served by other embassies.

Diplomatic offices in France and Italy will be consolidated. Furthermore, de la Espriella plans to halt the establishment of an embassy in the Palestinian territories, a project initiated by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. Petro had previously severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2024 due to the Gaza conflict. Conversely, de la Espriella intends to reopen Colombia's embassy in Jerusalem.

The president-elect justified the closures as a measure to generate savings, which he plans to redirect towards bolstering internal security. De la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer, narrowly won the June presidential election. He advocates for a strong right-wing agenda, including the use of military force against armed groups and the construction of new prisons. He also proposes making Barranquilla the permanent seat of the presidency, transforming the current presidential palace in Bogotá into a public museum.