A far‑right presidential frontrunner in Colombia is running on a promise to restore ties with Israel and bury the current government’s pro‑Palestine stance, a shift that could test the limits of Latin America’s solidarity with Gaza .
Abelardo de la Espriella has received a surge in support ahead of the first round of Colombia ’s presidential election on 31 May, with polls suggesting he is likely to defeat leftist candidate Iván Cepeda in a runoff.
Espriella has gained ground with his tough stance on crime and drug trafficking, vowing to end peace negotiations with leftist armed groups, which he pledges to treat strictly as criminal actors rather than political interlocutors.
A high‑profile defence attorney, he is also known for representing controversial clients – including Venezuelan‑Colombian businessman of Lebanese origin Alex Saab, indicted by the US government for allegedly orchestrating a massive money‑laundering scheme.
Campaigning under the self‑styled titles of “The Outsider” and “The Tiger”, the presidential candidate has secured backing from multiple ultraconservative parties, including the Christian Colombia Justa Libres party – whose evangelical and conservative base is staunchly supportive of Israel.
He is pledging a sharp turn in Colombia’s foreign policy towards Israel, vowing to renew and deepen strategic security partnerships with Tel Aviv.
In an interview with Colombian media in August 2025, the 47‑year‑old candidate commented on Israel’s assault on Gaza by saying Israel was “doing what it must to defend its people – and that is exactly what I will do to defend Colombia. Whatever the cost.”
Colombia officially severed diplomatic relations with Israel under the incumbent Gustavo Petro administration – the country’s first‑ever leftist government – amid escalating criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza.
Petro compared the Israeli military to Nazis at the onset of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, prompting Israel to halt all security exports to the Latin American country.
Bogotá later recalled its ambassador from Israel before eventually expelling remaining Israeli diplomats in October 2025 in reaction to Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Petro also signed a presidential decree in August last year formally institutionalising support for Palestine across the government, drawing criticism from Israel's allies in the region.
Throughout his campaign, Abelardo de la Espriella has also spoken about his intention to withdraw Colombia from international organisations such as the United Nations – precisely the forums where Palestine and human‑rights advocates have tried to challenge Israeli impunity.
Under Petro, Colombia assumed a co‑chairing role in the pro-Palestinian Hague Group alongside seven other nations, including Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa.
Established in January 2025, the group’s stated aim is to remain “united in the Netherlands to take coordinated legal and diplomatic measures against Israel’s violation of international law.”
Espriella’s rise signals a broader regional shift toward right‑wing candidates, placing him inside a constellation of leaders that is overwhelmingly pro‑Israel and hostile to Palestinian rights.
Leading this trend is Argentine President Javier Milei, who has transformed his country into one of Israel’s strongest global allies, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor during his third visit to Israel in April this year.
A similar pattern can be seen in El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele who, despite being of Palestinian origin, has deepened medical and military cooperation with Israel. His government has been reported to have used the Israeli spyware programme Pegasus to spy on critical voices, including by tapping into more than 20 phones belonging to Salvadoran journalists in 2022, according to Amnesty International.
Despite being home to the largest Palestinian population outside the Middle East, Chile is on a comparable trajectory. Newly elected José Antonio Kast – an open supporter of former dictator Augusto Pinochet – has taken a strongly pro‑Israel position, criticising former President Gabriel Boric not only for his stance on the Gaza genocide but also accusing him of antisemitism.