Sa'ar: 'Golden age' In Israel-Colombia ties begins as new president takes office

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar met with Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella on Thursday ahead of his inauguration, as the two nations moved to restore diplomatic, economic and security ties following more than two years of strained relations.

Sa'ar attended a private meeting and lunch at de la Espriella's office in Barranquilla that lasted nearly three hours and focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation across diplomatic, security and economic areas, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry.

"My friend, Abelardo de la Espriella, who will be sworn in today as president of Colombia, is a determined and inspiring leader," Sa'ar wrote on X on Friday. "His election is great news for his country, but also for relations between Israel and Colombia," He continued, calling de la Espriella "a great friend of the Jewish people and the State of Israel."

"The golden age in relations between Colombia and Israel begins today," Sa'ar wrote.

During the meeting, Sa'ar acknowledged the president-elect's decision to relocate Colombia's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, telling him: "You have laid a brick in the walls of Jerusalem."

Sa'ar represented Israel at de la Espriella's inauguration in Cali on Friday. The meeting followed earlier talks between the two men in Buenos Aires in November 2025 and came after Sa'ar met with Colombia's incoming foreign minister, Omar Bula, in Washington, where they outlined a roadmap to restore relations.

The planned measures include restoring full diplomatic ties and appointing ambassadors, lifting visa requirements and moving Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem. The incoming Colombian government also pledged to resume coal exports to Israel, halted under outgoing President Gustavo Petro, and reverse Bogotá's support for international initiatives against the Jewish state. Colombia intends to withdraw support for South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and leave the Hague Group.

These steps represent a reversal from Petro's policies, which severed diplomatic ties with Israel during the Gaza conflict. Colombia had previously been considered one of Israel's closest Latin American partners before relations deteriorated.

De la Espriella's election signals a return to that partnership. Sa'ar has designated 2026 as a year of strategic focus for deepening Israel's Latin American relations, following an official trip to Ecuador this week - the first by an Israeli foreign minister in 44 years - where the nations signed a counter-terrorism cooperation agreement and agreed to expand trade and agricultural ties.