How it could affect Colombia if Israel suspends security exports

Israel is one of the main partners of Colombia in matters of security, but that nourished relationship is at risk due to the recent diplomatic tensions that have escalated since the Colombian president compared the actions of Israel in the Gaza Strip with the Nazi concentration camps.

Colombia describes cooperation with Israel as “priority and relevant”

After rejecting the president’s statements Gustavo Petro, Israel decided to stop security exports to Colombia, as reported by its Foreign Ministry on Sunday, without detailing whether this will impact the cooperation agreements and contracts already signed with Colombia amounting to millions of dollars.

Petro responded by challenging to suspend bilateral relations if necessary and assured that he does not support “genocides”.

The Embassy of Israel in Colombia She did not immediately respond when asked by The Associated Press about the scope of her decision.

Diego Molano, who was Minister of Defense in the 2021-2022 period, told the AP that the decision of Israel It could affect the maintenance of KFIR aircraft, cybersecurity agreements, military material for border protection and the production of the Galil rifles used by the Army.

With Israel, “We have priority cooperation and one of the most relevant for national security“, assured Molano, who added that the United States, England and Germany are also part of the strategic partners of Colombia in security and defense.

Colombia It has about 22 planes KFIR model, Israeli-made fighter-bombers, which have been part of the attack and air defense fleet since the 1980s. They fulfill strategic tasks such as attacking drug trafficking, protecting airspace due to their air-to-air combat capacity and have helped to combat armed groups such as the extinct Forces Revolutionary Armies of Colombia (FARC).

The last three governments have thought about replacing the KFIR because their useful life is approaching its end and maintenance to keep them operational is becoming more and more expensive. On the table, there are proposals for combat aircraft from France, Sweden and the United States that have not materialized, given that the government of Petro has said that it will prioritize resources for social programs.

According to public documents from the Ministry of Defense and the Colombian Air Force reviewed by the AP, Colombia signed a contract in December 2022 with Israel Aerospace Industries LTD (IAI), domiciled in Israel, for more than US$5.8 million for maintenance services for KFIR aircraft for two years.

The Colombian Air Force justified that the Israeli IAI is the exclusive supplier for the KFIR. Furthermore, in an official resolution he warned that if the maintenance of the planes is not carried out “would lead to the paralysis of aircraft due to factors directly related to flight safety”.

The KFIR are the only fighter-bombers in Colombia. The Air Force fleet has other types of aircraft such as Huey helicopters, manufactured in the United States; Perkoz SZD-54-2 aerobatic gliders, purchased from Poland; the Súper Tucano, manufactured in Brazil, and the Calima T-90 manufactured in Colombia for pilot training.

The Colombian military also uses Galil rifles, caliber 5.56 mm, of Israeli manufacture, which since 2002 have been produced in Colombia thanks to a license granted by the Israel Military Industries (IMI) to the Colombian Military Industry and that also allows it to be marketed internationally.

Wilder Alejandro Sánchez, analyst and president of Second Floor Strategies, a defense and security consulting firm based in Washington, DC, explained to the AP that the problem may come for Colombia in the medium term when they do not receive from Israel more spare parts for airplanes, for Galil rifles or the drones. “I think that will limit the military’s ability to effectively combat some of the internal security threats.”he told the AP.

Long term implications

Israel’s exports in Colombia They go beyond airplanes, weapons and ammunition. In 2021, both governments signed an agreement for US$ 28.5 million to acquire integrated surveillancecontrol and communications for the border areas that the Army would use.

“You cannot afford to suspend security relations with one of your largest partners on that issue.“Erich Saumeth Cadavid, an analyst and researcher on defense issues, told the AP, referring to Colombia.

In his opinion, Israel It is also convenient for you to have a relationship with Colombia: “Israel sells and exports systems to a country (such as Colombia) whose characteristic is that they are used in real fire operations. It is beneficial for the defense industry Israel because it tests its systems worldwide”.

Colombia It is still fighting groups outside the law, despite the fact that since 2016 the rifles of the FARC guerrilla, which was the oldest in Latin America, thanks to a peace agreement. Other groups persist, such as the Clan del Golfo cartel, the FARC dissidents and the National Liberation Army guerrilla, with whom the government is carrying out dialogue processes to de-escalate the violence fueled by illegal income.

Despite the warning of Israel about stopping exports in safety, Petro He assured on Wednesday that with the bombing of the Gaza hospital, in which hundreds of people died, “the barbarity of the State of Israel against the Palestinian people has far surpassed the barbarity of Hamas against the Israeli civilian population”.

Bilateral relations at risk

A group of 12 former Colombian foreign ministers wrote a letter to Petro warning that his statements “They distance the possibilities of achieving a policy of consensus in international affairs and weaken the institutionality of our diplomacy.”.

Going through diplomatic channels, Petro He met with the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors on Thursday. According to an official statement, the president stated the “urgent need to initiate a dialogue that leads to a two-state solution, with clearly defined borders” and full democracies.

Meanwhile, in the streets of Bogotá they have demonstrated both in favor of the Palestinian people and of Israel.

The day before, hundreds of opponents of the government, such as reserve veterans and party activists Democratic Centerthey marched against Petrosome waving the Israeli flag.

“For opposing the government of Israel after everything we have shared as nations, to support terrorist groups that do not represent any state… that is why I march against Petro“Juan Carlos Villamil, who held a sign asking for his resignation, explained to the AP.

On Tuesday, in front of the Palestinian Embassy in Bogotá, another group of people defended their cause and supported the Colombian president.

“It is a totally disproportionate response (from Israel) to Hamas attacks,” Gregorio Herrera told the AP, wearing a Palestinian flag. “We come here to support the Palestinian people who have the right to their territory, their self-determination and, above all, to be able to live in peace.””.

With information from AP