Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella said Monday that the planned closure of several embassies is a streamlining move to save billions, not a severance of diplomatic ties with those countries, with the exception of Cuba and Nicaragua. He also reiterated his commitment to move Colombia's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, according to Israeli media.
Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella clarified Monday that the planned closure of numerous Colombian embassies is a cost-cutting measure and not a severance of diplomatic ties, with the exception of Cuba and Nicaragua. He also reiterated his commitment to move Colombia's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, according to a report by N12.
Earlier Monday at 12:34 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that de la Espriella planned to close the Palestinian embassy in Bogotá and open a Colombian embassy in Jerusalem, and that he intended to close 14 embassies and sever relations with Cuba and Nicaragua. The new statement specifies that the broader embassy closures are part of a foreign service reform aimed at saving billions of dollars and do not represent a fundamental break with those nations, but that ties with Cuba and Nicaragua will indeed be severed.
As The Zioneer has reported since June, de la Espriella won a decisive victory in Colombia's presidential runoff and has vowed to reverse the anti-Israel policies of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, including the 2023 severance of ties and the lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The incoming foreign minister, Omar Bula Escobar, has also pledged to renew full diplomatic relations and move the embassy to Jerusalem upon taking office in early August.
5 developments
- DevelopingSenior official plans to close 14 embassies, sever ties with Cuba and Nicaragua, Rozentzweig reports
- DevelopingColombia president-elect de la Espriella vows no ties with nations disrespecting democracy
- StrongColombia's new president announces first act: opening embassy in Jerusalem
- DevelopingColombia's incoming president announces withdrawal from ICC case against Israel
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