Colombia recognises Israeli sovereignty over occupied Golan Heights

Colombia on Monday officially recognised Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a strategic Syrian territory that has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967, Anadolu reports.

“The Government of Colombia recognises Israeli sovereignty over this territory, as well as the right of that state to protect itself against external threats,” the Colombian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry claimed that maintaining control over the plateau is an “essential component” of Israel’s national defence, particularly following the escalation of regional security challenges.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed gratitude to Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar for the shift in policy, labelling the move a “historic decision.”

The diplomatic move comes as Israel has expanded its military footprint in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. Tel Aviv declared the 1974 disengagement agreement void and moved into UN-monitored buffer zones, despite Syria’s new administration affirming its commitment to existing treaties.

The Golan Heights, which Israel unilaterally annexed in 1981, remains a focal point of international dispute. In 2019, during President Donald Trump’s first term, the US became the first country to recognise the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

Espriella, Colombia’s new pro-Israel leader who received strong backing from Trump during his campaign, recently ordered the suspension of a planned embassy in Palestine.