Colombia has recognised Israel’s claim of sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, becoming only the second country after the United States to formally support Israel’s claim over the territory. The announcement came just days after Colombia’s new far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella took office.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Monday. In a statement published on X, the ministry said, “The Government of Colombia recognises Israeli sovereignty over this territory, as well as that State’s right to protect itself against external threats,”

The statement also said, “Colombia recognises that maintaining Israel’s control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights is an essential component of its national defence”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed Colombia’s decision. He thanked what he called his “good friend” de la Espriella for the “historic” recognition. Saar said the two leaders had agreed on the move during a meeting in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, one day before de la Espriella’s inauguration.

Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel later annexed the territory in 1981. Most countries and international bodies rejected the move and do not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the region. The United States became the first country to formally recognise Israel’s claim in 2019 during Donald Trump’s first term as president.

The United Nations continues to recognise the Golan Heights as Syrian territory. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres repeated this position last month and described the Israeli occupation of the region as “totally unacceptable”. The Golan Heights remains a major point of dispute between Israel and Syria.

Syria attempted to retake the territory during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The fighting ended with an armistice between Israel and Syria in 1974. A UN-monitored buffer zone was later established between the two sides.

The latest Colombian decision comes as Israel increases its military presence inside Syria. The development follows the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. Israel has moved troops into the UN-monitored buffer zone and taken control of several strategic areas. These include the Syrian side of Jabal al-Sheikh, also known as Mount Hermon. The mountain overlooks the Syrian capital, Damascus.

De la Espriella’s decision reflects his campaign promise to strengthen Colombia’s relations with Israel and the United States. The new president ran a strongly nationalist campaign and pledged closer cooperation with both countries as part of his strategy to confront armed groups operating in Colombia.

The Colombian president has also promised to restore relations with Israel that deteriorated under his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. Petro strongly criticised Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. His government severed diplomatic relations with Israel and stopped importing Israeli weapons.

De la Espriella has also reversed another major foreign policy decision taken by Petro. He cancelled Petro’s plan to open a Colombian embassy in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.

Colombia’s recognition marks a significant shift in its position on Israel and the Middle East. It also gives Israel another diplomatic gain over the disputed Golan Heights. With the United States and Colombia now recognising Israeli sovereignty over the territory, they remain the only two countries to have taken that position, while the wider international community and the United Nations continue to consider the Golan Heights part of Syria.