Colombia VP Restrepo pledges full restoration of ties, embassy move to Jerusalem in meeting with Sa'ar

Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo, speaking at the start of his meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, declared that the new administration in Bogotá is moving immediately to reverse the diplomatic freeze of the previous government. Restrepo confirmed that Colombia will restore full diplomatic ties, reinstate the bilateral free trade agreement, and proceed with moving its embassy to Jerusalem.

A New Dawn in Relations

Restrepo characterized the shift as a fundamental restructuring of Colombia's foreign policy toward Israel. "The year 2026 marks the beginning of a new dawn in relations between Colombia and Israel," Restrepo stated. He emphasized that the commitment extends beyond diplomatic formalities to include innovation, entrepreneurship, and the attraction of Israeli investment to create jobs and opportunities for the Colombian people.

Reversing the Petro Era

The move marks the formal end of the adversarial stance taken by outgoing President Gustavo Petro, who had severed ties with Israel in June 2024. As The Zioneer reported earlier, the incoming administration under President Abelardo de la Espriella had pledged a dramatic reversal of these policies immediately upon the August 7 inauguration. The meeting between Sa'ar and Restrepo serves as the first high-level implementation of those campaign promises.

Strategic and Economic Alignment

By reinstating the free trade agreement, both nations aim to rebuild economic cooperation that was halted during the diplomatic rift. The decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem aligns Colombia with a growing number of nations recognizing the city as Israel's capital, signaling a deep strategic realignment in South American-Israeli relations. Foreign Minister Sa'ar is currently in Colombia for the presidential inauguration ceremonies, marking the highest-level Israeli visit to the country since the restoration of ties was announced.