JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Colombia will open an embassy in Jerusalem and restore full diplomatic relations with Israel following the election of President-elect Abelardo De La Espriella, officials announced.

The move reverses the policies of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, who severed ties with Israel in 2024 amid the Gaza conflict, expelled Israeli diplomats and imposed trade restrictions while backing legal actions against the Jewish state.

De La Espriella, a pro-Israel leader, said opening the embassy in Jerusalem will be among his first acts in office. He pledged to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, strengthen security cooperation — particularly against narcoterrorism — and rebuild bilateral ties.

The decision aligns Colombia with a growing list of nations that have relocated or plan to move their embassies to Jerusalem, reflecting closer alignment with both Israel and the United States.

Petro’s government had taken an increasingly adversarial stance toward Israel during the ongoing war with Hamas and other Iranian-backed terror groups. The rupture followed years of relatively warm relations between Bogotá and Jerusalem.

De La Espriella’s victory and policy shift mark a significant turnaround in Colombian foreign policy. Details on the exact timeline for reopening the embassy and resuming full diplomatic operations were not immediately released.