Colombia's new president deepens ties with Trump and Israel, recognises Golan Heights

Abelardo de la Espriella, a criminal lawyer turned president, marked his inaugural month by cementing a pro-US, pro-Israel foreign policy. He entered the Shield of the Americas alliance and will meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while also granting the United States permission to conduct military actions in Colombia. In a striking diplomatic shift, he recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, echoing only Trump’s earlier stance and drawing criticism from Arab and Muslim nations.

The government also signaled plans to exit the Belt and Road Initiative, despite China’s role in major infrastructure projects like Bogotá’s metro. Relations with regional leaders such as Panama’s José Raúl Mulino, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa and Peru’s Keiko Fujimori have been emphasized, whereas ties with Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remain distant. Analysts warn that these moves may isolate Colombia at the United Nations and compromise its sovereign decision-making.