Right-wing candidates won recent elections in Colombia and Peru, adding momentum to a broader political swing across Latin America. The trend, described in the article as the region’s “blue wave,” has also seen Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama move sharply to the right in the past two years, reversing the leftward “pink tide” that swept the continent about five years ago.
The article says the shift is driven mainly by public frustration over economic conditions and personal security. Mauricio Diment, a Latin America specialist at the Hebrew University and the College of Management, said people across the region “are not satisfied with the state, with services, with security, with the economy,” and that there is a “bad feeling about democracy and the political system.” In his view, ideology in the region is grounded first and foremost in economic policy.
Security has become a decisive campaign issue in several countries. In Peru, the right-wing victor campaigned under the slogan “Order for Peru” and promised to declare a 60-day state of emergency to fight “civil insecurity.” In Colombia, winner Abelardo De la Espriella pledged to restore security and build giant prisons, with armed militias at the center of the race. The article also notes that outgoing Colombian president Gustavo Petro cut ties with Israel and became one of its harshest critics, while De la Espriella promised to strengthen ties with Jerusalem and move Colombia’s embassy there.
The rightward shift is also bringing these countries closer to the United States and President Donald Trump, who has taken an unusually direct role in Latin American politics and publicly backed several right-wing leaders. Israel has benefited as well, with its Foreign Ministry deepening ties across the region. Diment said the development comes “at a good time for Israel” and could help with its international isolation. The article adds that Argentina’s Javier Milei has become one of Israel’s strongest supporters internationally, Honduras has moved to tighten ties after the rise of the right, and Brazil and Mexico remain under left-wing leadership, with Brazil due to vote in October against incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro.
