Colombia officially opened its embassy in Yerushalayim on Wednesday, becoming the tenth country to establish a diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital and marking a dramatic turnaround in relations between the two nations following a two-year diplomatic break.

The opening represents a significant achievement for Israel’s diplomatic efforts, coming just months after Colombia restored relations with the Jewish state following the election of President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had pledged during his campaign to move the country’s embassy to Yerushalayim.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar participated in the inauguration ceremony, during which the embassy’s official sign was unveiled and Sa’ar affixed a mezuzah to the entrance of the building.

Sa’ar hailed the development as another major step in Israel’s efforts to secure international recognition of Yerushalayim as its capital, noting that the number of foreign embassies in the city has doubled during his tenure.

“This is the tenth embassy to open in Jerusalem. When I took office less than two years ago, there were only five. This is an important milestone and a major diplomatic achievement,” Sa’ar said.

The foreign minister praised Colombia’s new president for following through on a commitment he had made before winning the election.

“Colombia’s President, Abelardo de la Espriella, told me long before his election: ‘If I am elected President, I will immediately move Colombia’s embassy to Jerusalem.’ He made a promise, and he kept it.”

Sa’ar emphasized that the decision carries significance beyond the formal recognition of Israel’s seat of government, describing it as an acknowledgment of the Jewish people’s longstanding connection to their capital.

“Opening an embassy in Jerusalem is not only recognition of the simple political fact that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. It is also recognition of a historical truth that no honest person can deny,” Sa’ar added.

Colombian Foreign Minister Bula described the inauguration as an important step toward repairing the relationship between the countries, saying that the previous diplomatic rupture should never have occurred.

“Today, we are taking a concrete step towards restoring diplomatic relations between our countries, relations that should never have been broken. Israel is a strategic partner. It always has been, and from now on, it will be an even stronger one,” he said.

The ceremony follows a sharp reversal in Colombia’s foreign policy since the departure of President Gustavo Petro, whose administration severed diplomatic relations with Israel in May 2024 in protest of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Under Petro, Colombia withdrew its ambassador, shut down its embassy in Tel Aviv and suspended several areas of cooperation with Israel. The measures brought a halt to a longstanding relationship that had included substantial economic, security and technological partnerships.

Diplomatic relations were formally restored in August 2026 under President de la Espriella, setting the stage for Wednesday’s embassy opening and a broader effort to rebuild ties between the two governments.

The renewed relationship also received an economic boost on Tuesday, when Israel and Colombia reinstated their free trade agreement, reversing another decision made during Petro’s presidency.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement welcoming the embassy’s inauguration and highlighting the president’s fulfillment of his election pledge. Officials said the new diplomatic mission would serve as a center for expanding cooperation in trade, security, investment, agriculture, scientific research and technology.

The embassy will also provide consular services to Colombian citizens living in or visiting Israel.

Ambassador Tania Gilinski will lead the diplomatic mission and oversee efforts to translate the restored relationship into practical agreements, commercial partnerships and new opportunities for cooperation.

Bula’s visit to Israel, which began October 13 and is scheduled to continue through October 16, includes discussions with senior government officials as well as meetings with representatives of Israel’s technology and innovation industries.

The Colombian foreign minister is also scheduled to meet with families of Colombian citizens murdered in the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, along with survivors of the massacre.

His itinerary includes a meeting with Elkana Bohbot, an Israeli citizen who also holds Colombian citizenship and was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli and Colombian officials are now working to broaden their cooperation in several strategic fields, including defense technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, agricultural development and water management.

Colombia is additionally seeking to expand its commercial presence in Israel, with particular interest in increasing exports of coffee, flowers, agricultural commodities, chemicals and other products.