New Colombian government recognizes Israel’s sovereignty over Golan Heights

South American country is just 2nd in world after US to endorse Israeli claim over territory captured from Syria in 1967; FM Sa’ar thanks Bogota for ‘historic decision’

By Lazar Berman

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and ToI Staff 10 August 2026, 10:52 pm

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View of the first snow this winter on Mount Hermon in Syria, as seen from the northern Golan Heights near the Syrian border, on December 13, 2025. (Michael Giladi/Flash90)

Colombia on Monday recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, South American country’s new right-wing government announced, making it only the second country in the world to officially endorse Israel’s claim to the disputed territory, after the US did so in 2019.

“Given the persistent regional instability in the Middle East and considering the strategic importance of the Golan Heights to Israel’s security, the Government of Colombia recognizes Israeli sovereignty over this territory, as well as Israel’s right to protect itself against external threats,” Colombia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“In this regional security context, Colombia recognizes that maintaining Israel’s control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights is an essential component of its national defense and its ability to protect and safeguard its citizens,” the statement said.

The announcement came just days after the inauguration as the nation’s president of pro-Israel lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, who has pledged to move the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem and restore once-vibrant ties, which soured during the Gaza war under former president Gustavo Petro. The inauguration was attended by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, amid a push for closer relations with Latin America.

It also came just hours after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 100 people and injuring hundreds more, prompting Israel to offer its assistance.

Reacting to the move, Sa’ar thanked his “good friend” de la Espriella “for his historic decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.”

#Atención | Colombia reconoce la soberanía de Israel sobre los Altos del Golán. pic.twitter.com/D7dDZ6lxzy

— Cancillería Colombia (@CancilleriaCol) August 10, 2026

“With this, the President of Colombia has demonstrated, in one of his first decisions in office, his leadership, his values, and his commitment to Israel and Israel’s security,” he said on X.

Defending the strategic necessity of Israel’s control over the territory, Sa’ar said, “Israel is a small country without strategic depth. Having defensible borders is essential for Israel in order to guarantee the existence of the Jewish people in its historic homeland.”

Sa’ar added that he will “continue to act so that more countries join” the US and Colombia in recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, right, meets with Colombia’s incoming president Abelardo de la Espriella at the latter’s office in Barranquilla, Colombia, on August 6, 2026, a day before de la Espriella’s inauguration. (Lodis Studios)

Israel captured the strategic plateau from Syria during the 1967 Six Day War, and extended Israeli law to it in 1981, a step tantamount to annexation.

In 2019, US President Donald Trump broke with decades of US policy by signing a proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan. His successor, Joe Biden, did not reverse the decision.