DR Congo latest to promise moving Israel embassy to Jerusalem

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has pledged to relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, marking it as the latest nation to endorse Israeli sovereignty in the contested holy city. This move follows the visit of President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi to Israel, where he discussed strengthening diplomatic relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both leaders expressed a shared commitment to bolstering ties between their countries, as reported in a joint statement.

Tshisekedi has long been a vocal supporter of Israel, attributing his backing to his Christian faith. He has also sought support from the United States, which has increasingly pressured neighboring Rwanda on militant advances within DR Congo. The announcement comes weeks after Colombia's newly-elected right-wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella, likewise announced his country's intention to move its embassy to Jerusalem, marking a significant shift from his leftist predecessor's stance against Israel's Gaza offensive.

The vast majority of countries that recognize Israel maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, believing that Jerusalem's status will be determined through the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, after President Donald Trump relocated the United States embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, only a handful of smaller, US-aligned nations have followed suit, including Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay.

Additionally, Kosovo and Somaliland, which are not UN member-states, have also established embassies in Jerusalem.

Other notable right-wing leaders in Latin America, such as Argentine President Javier Milei, have also expressed their intentions to relocate their embassies to Jerusalem, though these shifts have yet to take effect. Milei's plan has been delayed due to disagreements over an Israeli company's proposed drilling activities in the British-ruled Falkland Islands, a territory claimed by Argentina as the Malvinas.