Colombia’s senior cabinet members join its vice president in meeting with Sa’ar

By Lazar Berman

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7 August 2026, 6:02 pm

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Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar meets with Colombia's vice president and members of its cabinet, August 7, 2026. (Office of Gideon Sa’ar)

Senior members of the new Colombian cabinet unexpectedly join the meeting between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and freshly inaugurated Colombian Vice President Jose Manuel Restrepo in Cali.

The new foreign, defense, finance, justice, environment and trade ministers show up at the meeting, Sa’ar’s office tells The Times of Israel.

Sa’ar is attending the inauguration of Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella. The new president has pledged to have much friendlier relations with Israel than his left-wing predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who severed diplomatic ties with Jerusalem.

“You designated 2026 as a year for expanding its ties with Latin America,” says Restrepo. “For Colombia, 2026 will be marked by the deepening and strengthening of its relationship with the State of Israel.”