The government of Colombia, led by newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella, has officially recognized Israel's claim of sovereignty over the occupied Syrian territory known as the Golan Heights. This move makes Colombia the second nation to acknowledge Israel's annexation of the area, following the United States, which made a similar declaration in 2019 during President Donald Trump's term. The announcement was made on Monday by Colombia's Foreign Ministry, emphasizing the importance of Israel maintaining control over the Golan Heights for its national defense. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the recognition as historic and expressed gratitude to his "good friend" de la Espriella. This decision comes amidst Israel's increased military presence in Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024. It is important to note that the United Nations still recognizes the Golan Heights as part of Syria, and last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed this stance, denouncing Israeli occupation as unacceptable. This recognition by Colombia signifies a shift in its foreign policy towards closer ties with Israel, as President de la Espriella has pledged to restore diplomatic relations severed by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who criticized Israel's actions in Gaza and halted arms imports. Additionally, de la Espriella has canceled Petro's plans to open an embassy in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.