Colombia's president-elect, right-wing Ricardo Espriella, announced he will make radical changes in foreign policy. In a video posted on the U.S.-based X social media platform, Espriella outlined the steps he would implement within the first 100 days after taking office.
Jerusalem embassy to reopen, Palestine plan suspended
Espriella announced Colombia will reopen its embassy in Jerusalem. "I will reopen the Colombian Embassy in Jerusalem, which was one of my campaign promises," Espriella said, aiming to restore relations with Israel. He also stated he would suspend the plan to open an embassy in Palestine, claiming the embassy in question never became operational.
Diplomatic relations with Cuba and Nicaragua to be severed
The president-elect stated bluntly that he would cut diplomatic relations with Cuba and Nicaragua. He targeted the two countries by saying "My government will have no ties to tyrannies." Espriella stressed that closing embassies in other countries did not mean ending diplomatic relations.
Embassies in 14 countries to be closed
Espriella announced the closure of embassies in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, the Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Malaysia, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, as well as Cuba and Nicaragua. However, he noted that diplomatic relations with the 12 countries other than Cuba and Nicaragua would be maintained.
Petro's Israel decision to be reversed
These statements mark a sharp break from the policies of current President Gustavo Petro. Colombia cut diplomatic relations with Israel on May 3, 2024, citing attacks on the Palestinian people in Gaza, and President Petro ordered the opening of an embassy in Ramallah on May 23, 2024. Petro previously described Espriella's pledge to restore ties with Israel as an "insult to national honor."
Espriella also announced that in order to save resources and reduce bureaucracy, the embassy to France in Paris and the permanent mission to UNESCO, as well as the embassy to Italy in Rome and the mission to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), would be merged under a single center.
It was also announced that the inauguration ceremony would be held in Cali, in the Valle del Cauca region, instead of the Popayan military garrison in the Cauca region, due to weather conditions. Current President Petro said on July 25 that he would not allow Espriella to be sworn in at any military garrison.
