Trump's Latin America allies open arms to Israel

In 2009, a three-week military campaign in Gaza, which resulted in over 1,400 deaths, including around 1,100 civilians, led Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to expel the Israeli ambassador and sever diplomatic ties. Now, 17 years later, Venezuela and Israel have agreed to establish consular services, a step that would have been unexpected until recently.

Colombia recently reversed its decision to cut diplomatic relations with Israel, following the death of more than 70,000 people in the latest Gaza conflict, including nearly one-third of them children. The country plans to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, despite international disagreement with the annexation.

This trend of closer ties to Israel is seen as a response to the rise of the far-right in the region. Authoritarians in Latin America are aligning with Israel to strengthen their association with the United States. Ultraconservative President Javier Milei of Argentina, for instance, has made strong relations with Israel a key aspect of his foreign policy and his political persona.

In Chile, the conservative successor to socialist former President Gabriel Boric is seeking to revive defense cooperation with Israel. While Brazil, the most influential country in the region, maintains a critical stance towards Israel due to its democratic socialist government, it still preserves diplomatic relations. Mexico, under its socialist president, Claudia Sheinbaum, aims for neutrality and balance while maintaining relations with Israel.

These developments signify a significant shift in Israel's relations with some Latin American governments, marking a notable change in bilateral ties.