Colombia Opens Embassy in Jerusalem, Defying International Law

Colombia inaugurated its new embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, becoming the tenth country to establish an embassy in the city, a move described as a violation of international law. The embassy is located in the Salameh building, constructed in the 1920s by Palestinian businessman Constantine Salameh.

This development follows a shift in Colombian foreign policy under the new administration of President Abelardo de la Espriella, who succeeded Gustavo Petro. Petro had previously threatened to sever diplomatic ties with Israel over the war in Gaza and had cut relations in 2024. Petro also claimed to have survived an assassination attempt in February 2026 and warned of a potential US invasion.

President de la Espriella is known as a close ally of former US President Donald Trump, who moved the US embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in August. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bolanos Escobar and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, as well as Colombia's new ambassador to Israel, Tania Gylinski, whose position had been vacant for three years.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated that more embassies are expected in Jerusalem, noting that the number of embassies there has doubled from five to ten during his tenure. He also mentioned that the 11th embassy, from Congo, is forthcoming, and he knows the identity of the 12th country but cannot disclose it.

Other countries that have moved their embassies to Jerusalem include the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Fiji, Nauru, and the breakaway region of Somaliland. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Colombia's decision, calling it a "blatant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions" and asserting that all actions altering Jerusalem's legal status are "null and void."