Name? Omar Bula
Westphalian identity? Colombian
Age? 63
Why is he in the news? This morning Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula unveiled Colombia’s new and moved embassy in Jerusalem (previously in Tel Aviv, where most other countries’ embassies are). This makes Colombia the tenth country to house its embassy in Jerusalem, recognizing it as Israel’s capital, which the country has occupied in its entirety since the Six Day War. This move solidifies Colombia’s 180-degree (re)turn re: Israel since former president Gustavo Petro’s total diplomatic and economic break with the country.
Why do we care? Three months ago, Colombia was still set to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (whose jurisdiction Israel does not accept). Bula’s overtures intend to make nice with Israeli leadership, restore defence sales to Colombia, and (conveniently) increase coal sales to Israel.
Why should you care? Colombia’s defence relationship with Israel has to do with their governments’ shared history of combatting insurgent fighting. As Bula expressed in his unveiling speech, the administration, which promised to treat Colombian “guerrilleros” with an iron fist, is hoping to get not just Israeli weapons but “counterterrorism” expertise. This won’t be Colombia’s first time taking a hard-line approach to paramilitary groups; the country was embroiled in a civil war for much of the previous 50 years, causing almost a half million deaths.
Who else cares? U.S. President Donald Trump famously started the Jerusalem embassy trend back in 2018. A few other American countries have since followed suit, but Colombia is the biggest catch yet, both demographically and economically. Good relations with Israel are undoubtedly a part of Colombia’s broader security strategy and rapprochement with the United States, whose military coalition they joined just last month to counter organised crime in the continent.
Any further comments? The building now housing the Colombian embassy was built by a Palestinian contractor when Jerusalem was still part of British Mandatory Palestine.
