Colombia Recognizes Israeli Sovereignty Over Golan Heights, Becoming Second Country to Do So
Colombia announced on Monday that it recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, making it the second United Nations member state to do so after the United States in 2019. The decision follows the inauguration of President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office on 7 August 2026, and is part of a broader effort to restore diplomatic ties with Israel that were severed in 2024 amid the Gaza war.
The Colombian government’s statement, released on 10 August, said that the recognition was based on “the persistent regional instability in the Middle East and the strategic importance of the Golan Heights to Israel’s security.” It added that the territory’s control is an “essential component of Israel’s national security and its ability to defend its citizens.” The statement also noted the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel as a factor that intensified security concerns.
Colombia’s move comes after President de la Espriella pledged to relocate the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem and to re‑establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. The president’s campaign platform included a promise to reverse the foreign‑policy stance of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who had cut ties with Israel in 2024. De la Espriella’s administration has already begun talks with Israeli officials to resume diplomatic engagement.
The Golan Heights was captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Six‑Day War and was formally annexed in 1981 through the Golan Heights Law. The annexation was condemned by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 497, and the majority of the international community continues to regard the territory as Syrian land under occupation. The United States became the first country to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, a decision that was widely seen as a political alignment with Israel.
In response to Colombia’s recognition, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanked the Colombian president on the social‑media platform X, calling the decision “historic.” Sa’ar also praised Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar for his role in the decision. The Israeli statement emphasized that “having defensible borders is essential for Israel in order to guarantee the existence of the Jewish people in its historic homeland.”
Colombia’s recognition does not change the status of the Golan Heights under international law, but it signals a shift in Latin American foreign‑policy orientation toward Israel. The move may influence other countries in the region, although no other United Nations member has formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the territory. The decision also comes at a time when Israel has recently taken control of the United Nations‑monitored demilitarized buffer zone on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024.
The Colombian government has not announced any immediate changes to its diplomatic presence in Israel beyond the planned embassy relocation. The recognition is expected to be welcomed by Israeli officials and may affect Colombia’s engagement with other Middle Eastern states, but it remains a unilateral stance that is unlikely to alter the broader international consensus on the Golan Heights.
In summary, Colombia’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights marks a significant shift in its foreign‑policy posture, aligning it with the United States and Israel on a contentious territorial issue. The decision is part of President de la Espriella’s broader strategy to restore ties with Israel and to reposition Colombia’s diplomatic relations in the Middle East.
