Israel’s FM heads to Colombia, Ecuador as ties with Latin America grow

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar embarked on a trip to Colombia and Ecuador on Wednesday, aiming to bolster and revitalize Israel's relationships with Latin American nations. This marks a significant milestone for Israel, as it marks the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Ecuador in 44 years. The diplomat will also attend the inauguration of Colombia's newly elected hard-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella, on Friday.

Saar highlighted the success of Israel's diplomatic efforts in strengthening ties with various Latin American countries. De la Espriella, a staunch ally of US President Donald Trump, expressed his intention to relocate Israel's embassy in Colombia from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This move, which has only been undertaken by a few select nations thus far, contrasts with outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro's decision to sever ties with Israel following its military campaign in Gaza.

The shift in diplomatic relations is a notable departure from the previous administration, as Jerusalem remains Israel's capital, despite international recognition only being granted to the city by a limited number of nations due to Palestinian claims. Argentine President Javier Milei, another vocal supporter of Israel, has also pledged to move his country's embassy to Jerusalem, although this has yet to materialize due to disagreements over an Israeli company's drilling plans in the British-ruled Falkland Islands, which Argentina lays claim to as the Malvinas.

Israel's growing influence in Latin America comes at a time when the nation faces widespread criticism from the global community, particularly in Europe, over the devastating war in Gaza that commenced in response to Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attack.