De la Esperanza, who enjoys the support of U.S. President Donald Trump and is set to begin his term on August 7, has said that reestablishing ties with Israel will be among the first steps of his administration.

His office stated that Colombia will open an embassy in Jerusalem, a city it considers the capital of Israel. According to the statement, the goal is to strengthen the historic ties between the two states.

This new direction overturns the decisions of the government of Gustavo Petro, the outgoing president. Petro severed diplomatic relations with Israel in 2024, in protest against the war in the Gaza Strip. His administration also banned coal exports to Israel and the purchase of Israeli weapons.

The outgoing president reacted sharply to his successor’s initiative, accusing de la Esperanza of becoming an “accomplice in genocide” through his rapprochement with Israel.

In Washington, the foreign minister proposed by the president-elect, Omar Boula, met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Both sides reached an agreement on a plan that foresees the full restoration of bilateral relations and the lifting of the visa regime.

According to the president-elect’s office, Colombia will also withdraw its support for South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In that case, Israel is accused of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Most countries still have their embassies in Tel Aviv, as the status of Jerusalem remains one of the most contested issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, following President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the city as Israel’s capital.

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