BOGOTÁ — In a significant shift in its foreign policy, Colombia has officially recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The move makes the South American nation only the second country in the world—following the United States—to formally acknowledge Israel’s claim to the strategic plateau.

The decision has drawn immediate and sharp criticism from the international community, particularly from Syria, which maintains that the territory is an illegally occupied part of its sovereign land. Syria was joined by Saudi Arabia in condemning the move, calling it a violation of international law and a departure from the global consensus on the status of the territory.

Analysts view the move as a cornerstone of Israel's broader strategy to cultivate stronger ties in Latin America, an initiative aimed at mitigating its diplomatic isolation. Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, have been actively engaged in high-level discussions across the region, seeking to build new alliances that extend beyond traditional Western partnerships.

While the administration in Bogotá framed the recognition as a strengthening of bilateral ties with a strategic partner, domestic political observers note that the move aligns with the current government’s shift toward right-leaning foreign policy priorities.

As of this writing, neither the Israeli government nor the Colombian foreign ministry has released further details on whether this diplomatic pivot will be followed by specific trade or security agreements. Meanwhile, the Syrian Foreign Ministry has signaled that the move will likely lead to a cooling of diplomatic relations between Damascus and Bogotá.

Source: The Jerusalem Post