Israeli FM Holds First Diplomatic Meeting With Colombia's New President Ahead Of Inauguration
Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar met with Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, to discuss restoring diplomatic ties and security cooperation. The meeting marks a significant shift in policy following the previous administration's strained relationship with Israel.
Why it matters
The restoration of ties between Israel and Colombia signals a major realignment in South American foreign policy regarding the Middle East.
Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar met with Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, on Friday, the new Colombian leader's first diplomatic meeting with a foreign official ahead of his inauguration.
Sa'ar was invited to the president-elect's office in Barranquilla for a private meeting and lunch that lasted nearly three hours. The two leaders discussed practical steps to strengthen political, security and economic cooperation as Israel and Colombia work to restore full diplomatic ties.
During the meeting, Sa'ar thanked de la Espriella for his decision to relocate Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem, calling the move "laying a brick in the walls of Jerusalem."
The meeting was the second between the two leaders, following an earlier encounter in Buenos Aires in November 2025.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in