Colombia officially opened its new embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the South American country's diplomatic relationship with Israel after years of tensions under former President Gustavo Petro. The move fulfills a campaign promise by conservative President Abelardo de la Espriella and makes Colombia the tenth country to establish an embassy in Jerusalem.

The opening ceremony took place Wednesday morning local time and was attended by Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Sa’ar described the occasion as an important day for Jerusalem and relations between the two countries.

In a social media post, Sa’ar thanked de la Espriella and recalled meeting him in Buenos Aires before his election. During that encounter, de la Espriella pledged to move Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem immediately if elected president.

“He promised, and he delivered,” Sa’ar wrote.

“This is the tenth embassy to open in Jerusalem. Since I took office less than two years ago, the number of embassies in Jerusalem has doubled,” the Israeli foreign minister added. “There will be more, God willing, and soon.”

Colombia's Foreign Ministry said the embassy would promote cooperation with Israel in security, trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology. The diplomatic mission will also provide assistance to Colombian citizens living in Israel.

“Under the leadership of Ambassador Tania Gilinski, the Embassy will work to turn the opportunities offered by this strategic alliance into concrete results for Colombians,” the ministry said.

The reopening represents part of a broader foreign policy shift under de la Espriella, who took office on August 7. In June, shortly after his election, he pledged to strengthen Colombia's relationship with Israel “like never before.”

Colombia and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1957 and maintained friendly ties for decades before Petro took office. Relations deteriorated sharply after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, when Petro launched repeated public condemnations of the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Petro accused Israel of turning Gaza into a “concentration camp” comparable to Auschwitz during World War II.

In May 2024, Petro announced that Colombia would sever diplomatic relations with Israel. Weeks later, his administration moved Colombia's diplomatic representation from Tel Aviv to Ramallah in the West Bank. Then-Foreign Minister Luis Murillo said the move would facilitate Colombia's recognition of “Palestine” as a state. Israeli Ambassador Gali Dagan left Colombia in late June 2024.

Petro continued criticizing Israel after the diplomatic break. In July 2025, he accused Colombian coal exporters of defying his orders to stop shipments to Israel, alleging that the mineral was being used to manufacture bombs and “kill Palestinian babies.” Colombian experts disputed that characterization, saying the coal was used to generate electricity, including power supplied to Gaza.

In September 2025, Petro also accused President Donald Trump of aiding what he called “genocide” in Gaza and announced that Colombia would sever its free trade agreement with Israel. According to The Jerusalem Post, Colombia officially restored the trade agreement on Tuesday, one day before the embassy opening.

Sa’ar said the new Colombian government had moved quickly to reverse the damage to bilateral relations.

“In just two months, we have reversed most of the negative consequences of the Petro administration for Israel-Colombia relations and have even broken new ground,” Sa’ar said Wednesday. “I thank Abelardo de la Espriella for his determination to bring Israel-Colombia relations to an all-time high.”