In a discouraging development for advocates of human rights and Global South solidarity, Colombia’s far-right president-elect, Abelardo De la Espriella, has announced his intention to restore diplomatic ties with Israel and realign the nation’s foreign policy with the geopolitical interests of the United States. This decision threatens to immediately undo the progressive, justice-oriented foreign policy established under outgoing President Gustavo Petro, who had courageously positioned Colombia as a moral voice against international law violations.

Under the Petro administration, Colombia took a historic stand by cutting ties with Israel in response to the devastating military campaign in Gaza. Petro’s move was celebrated by progressive movements worldwide as a necessary act of solidarity with marginalized populations and a rejection of militarized violence. By severing these relations, the Petro government challenged the historical status quo, which had long bound Colombia to external military-industrial complexes at the expense of its own ethical sovereignty.

Furthermore, Petro sought to redefine Colombia’s historically subservient relationship with the United States. For decades, Washington’s interventionist policies, particularly through militarized anti-narcotics frameworks like Plan Colombia, have disproportionately impacted marginalized rural and Afro-Colombian communities. Petro’s advocacy for social justice, environmental protection, and holistic crop substitution represented a shift away from foreign-imposed security doctrines toward community-led peacebuilding.

De la Espriella’s rapid pledge to rebuild these ties signals a regression to a submissive foreign policy model. Critics argue that by prioritizing alliances with right-wing governments and imperial powers, the incoming administration is signaling its willingness to overlook systemic human rights violations in exchange for military hardware and political backing. This shift threatens to remilitarize Colombian society and re-integrate the country into aggressive global security frameworks.

Of particular concern is the resumption of military contracts with Israeli defense corporations. Historically, Colombian security forces have utilized Israeli technology and tactical training in domestic counter-insurgency operations, which progressive organizations have long criticized for exacerbating internal conflict and leading to abuses against rural and Indigenous populations. Restoring these contracts aligns the Colombian state once more with militaristic policing structures.