Colombia joins Venezuela and Bolivia in breaking with Israel, the opposite case to Argentina

Colombia has joined Bolivia and Venezuela in the group of Latin American countries that have decided to break diplomatic relations with Israel, thus marking a turning point in political and commercial relations in the region, where Javier Milei’s Argentina represents the extreme opposite.

This resolution – announced on Wednesday by Colombian President Gustavo Petro – could have profound economic repercussions, influence trade agreements and reconfigure political alliances in Latin America.

Political, economic and commercial repercussions

Divergence in foreign policies can lead to discrepancies between Latin American countries, as some governments align more closely with political blocs that support or condemn Israel’s actions in the international context.

This may affect the diplomatic cooperation and economic aid of some Latin American countries with Israel, and potentially with the United States or others that have strategic interests in the region and the Middle East.

The provisions adopted by these countries can be seen as an act of solidarity towards Palestine, thus strengthening alliances with nations that share a similar position regarding conflicts in the Middle East.

Economic relations with Israel may also be affected, as that country is a significant trading partner and source of advanced technology, especially in areas such as agriculture and cybersecurity.

Latin America does not have a unanimous position in relation to Israel and the conflict in the Middle East. The policies and positions of the countries in the region vary significantly depending on internal political, historical and diplomatic factors.

With Lula, Brazil took a turn

During the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), Brazil sought to strengthen its ties with Israel. The then ruler initially promised to move the Brazilian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – against the international status of this city and United Nations resolutions – but finally limited himself to opening a diplomatic commercial office.

The current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has adopted a very critical stance towards Israel in relation to the conflict in Gaza, going so far as to describe that country’s actions as a “genocide” and comparing them to the Nazi Holocaust.

These statements caused a clash with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who considered them a “trivialization of the holocaust”.

Lula has also been critical of Israel’s military response and has denounced the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza. Furthermore, he has urged the recognition of two states as a solution to the conflict, advocating for the full and sovereign recognition of Palestine.

Colombia, from cooperation to rupture

Israel has traditionally been an important supplier of military equipment to Colombia, which has been crucial for government security actions against drug traffickers and armed groups, but with the arrival of Gustavo Petro to the Presidency in August 2022, the country adopted a stance very critical of Israel.

Petro has called Israel’s military actions in Gaza “genocide” and has compared them to the Nazi persecutions during World War II.

While Israel suspended security exports to Colombia, Petro simultaneously put an end to arms purchases from that country, thus evidencing a critical stance that this Monday had its maximum expression with the breaking of diplomatic relations.

In parallel, Colombia has expressed active support for Palestine internationally, including an attempt to join a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Chile’s critical approach towards Israel

The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, has demonstrated a critical stance towards Israel, which he has described as a “Genocidal and murderous state”, and has supported movements such as the boycott of products from Israeli settlements.

In Chile, home to the largest Palestinian community outside the Middle East, Boric has publicly condemned Israel’s military actions, particularly in relation to Gaza, and has stated that they violate international humanitarian law.

In addition, it has had tense diplomatic encounters with Israel, including the delay in accepting its ambassador’s credentials in protest of military actions in the occupied territories, in addition to its exclusion from the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE), considered a one of the most important exhibitions on security, defense and aeronautics in Latin America.

In Argentina, the relationship changes depending on the Government

Argentina has had a complex relationship with Israel, marked by important Jewish and Arab communities that influence internal attitudes towards Israel depending on the government in power.

The country has also been the scene of very serious anti-Semitic attacks, such as the attack against the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and the attack in 1994 against the Jewish organization AMIA, both of which occurred in Buenos Aires and which left a total of 107 dead and half a thousand wounded.

The current president, Javier Milei, has shown a position of unequivocal support for Israel in the conflict in the Middle East, with emphatic condemnations of Iran’s attacks on Israel and underlining that country’s right to defend its sovereignty and its territory against what described as regimes that promote terrorism?

In addition to announcing his intention to move the Argentine Embassy to Jerusalem, Milei has created a crisis committee to address the situation in the Middle East and study additional Argentine support for Israel.

Guatemala, a traditional ally that is committed to peace

Guatemala has been one of Israel’s strongest allies in Latin America. The relationship dates back to the Central American country’s initial support for the creation of a Jewish state in 1947.

Furthermore, in 2018, then-president Jimmy Morales (2016-2020) moved the Guatemalan Embassy to Jerusalem, as a show of support for the Israeli State.

Currently, the president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, has maintained a pacifist stance in relation to the conflict in the Middle East.

Last February, during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Arévalo reaffirmed his commitment to peace and offered his solidarity to Israel during an especially turbulent time due to the war between Israel and Israel. and Hamas.