Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has signed an order restoring coal exports to Israel, reversing a ban imposed by his predecessor during the Gaza war and marking another significant step in the rapidly warming relationship between the two countries.
The order, signed over the weekend, allows Colombian coal shipments to Israel to resume after they were halted under President Gustavo Petro, whose government pursued an increasingly hostile policy toward Israel during the war.
De la Espriella, who has emerged as a strongly pro-Israel leader, has dramatically changed Colombia’s approach since taking office, moving away from Petro’s policies and rebuilding diplomatic and economic ties with Israel.
The resumption of coal exports is the latest in a series of major diplomatic developments between Israel and Colombia in recent months.
Several months ago, Colombia formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, becoming only the second country in the world, after the United States, to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the strategically important territory.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Colombia and met with de la Espriella, presenting Israel’s position on the Golan Heights and explaining the territory’s importance to the country’s security. Despite pressure from Arab countries, the Colombian president ultimately agreed to recognize Israeli sovereignty there.
Sa’ar also announced a mutual visa-waiver agreement between Israel and Colombia that is scheduled to take effect on September 1.
Under the agreement, citizens of both countries will be able to visit the other without first obtaining a visa, significantly easing travel and potentially expanding tourism, commerce and business ties between Israel and Colombia.
The strengthening relationship has also been evident in Israel’s response to the devastating earthquake that struck Colombia approximately a week ago.
Israel dispatched what was reported to be the largest foreign rescue delegation sent to assist Colombia following the disaster, with IDF Home Front Command personnel operating in Cali and other heavily damaged areas.
The Israeli Home Front Command delegation includes dozens of soldiers and search-and-rescue specialists and is working at three of the five largest destruction sites in Cali.
The Israeli team arrived approximately 96 hours after the earthquake, at a point when rescue officials still believed there was a possibility of locating survivors beneath the rubble.
Israeli personnel on the ground have been working closely with Colombian municipal officials and government ministers as the search for missing people continues.
The delegation is also drawing on experience gained during its recent mission in Venezuela, where a powerful earthquake struck approximately three weeks earlier. That experience has been used to assist ongoing search-and-rescue efforts in Colombia.
The restoration of coal exports to Israel, combined with Colombia’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the new visa-waiver agreement, represents a dramatic turnaround in relations between the two countries.
De la Espriella’s diplomatic moves reflect a markedly more pragmatic and pro-Israel approach than that of his predecessor, with the latest decision now extending the growing relationship beyond diplomacy and into an economically significant area of trade.
{Matzav.com}
