Colombia’s newly elected president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has announced plans to strengthen relations with Israel. In a statement released by his office, he confirmed that Colombia will open an embassy in Jerusalem and withdraw its participation from the ongoing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The move is described as part of efforts to reestablish a 'historic alliance' with Israel.

The ICJ case, initiated by South Africa, accuses Israel of committing genocide during the ongoing war in Gaza. De la Espriella’s decision marks a sharp policy reversal from outgoing leftist president Gustavo Petro, who had been a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and an open supporter of Palestine.

The announcement signals a major shift in Colombia’s foreign policy direction, aligning the country more closely with Israel and distancing it from the previous administration’s stance on the Gaza conflict.