FM Sa’ar to visit Colombia for inauguration of new pro-Israel president

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is visiting Ecuador and Colombia as part of a diplomatic push in Latin America, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Sa’ar’s visit to Ecuador will be the first by an Israeli foreign minister in 44 years.

On Friday, Sa’ar will attend the inauguration of Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella, where he also meet with leaders from Central and South America.

Bogota’s relations with Jerusalem nosedived under Colombia’s first-ever leftist government led by President Gustavo Petro, an ardent critic of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which he has cast as a genocide — a charge vehemently denied by Israel.

Petro severed diplomatic ties and suspended the purchase of weaponry from Israel — formerly one of Colombia’s main military partners.

De la Espriella has said he will reverse these decisions, and one of his main campaign pledges was to “renew a strategic alliance with the State of Israel,” open an embassy in Jerusalem, and “defend the Judeo-Christian principles that form the foundation of Western civilization.”

Colombia’s new right-wing government announced last month that the country will open an embassy in Jerusalem.

“We are continuing our effort to bring Latin America closer to Israel,” says Sa’ar in a statement. “Israel and its citizens will benefit from this in every sphere, diplomatically, economically, and through tourism.”