Colombia Elects Pro-Israel De La Espriella

Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia’s presidential runoff after more than 99% of votes were counted, marking a sharp pro-Israel shift after years of tension under outgoing President Gustavo Petro.

The Tanakh says, “I will bless those who bless you” (Genesis 12:3). That verse has echoed across generations. It speaks to nations that understand the moral weight of standing with Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people.

De La Espriella received 49.65% of the vote, defeating left-wing rival Iván Cepeda by about 245,000 votes. Cepeda received 48.7%.

A Pro-Israel Shift

De La Espriella ran as a right-wing, pro-Israel candidate. During the campaign, he pledged to move Colombia’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

That pledge carries major diplomatic meaning. Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, and recognizing that reality has become a central test of moral clarity in foreign policy.

The victory also signals a break from Petro’s anti-Israel line. Petro severed ties with Israel during the war in Gaza and became one of Latin America’s harshest critics of the Jewish state.

Petro’s Camp Loses Power

Cepeda was viewed as a clear ally of Petro and his political camp. His defeat therefore weakens the outgoing president’s attempt to preserve his foreign policy direction.

According to the provided post, Petro did not accept the result and claimed Israel influenced the outcome through a cyberattack. European observers had already rejected Petro’s earlier fraud claims during the first round, calling the vote process transparent.

For Israel, the change in Colombia matters. A country that had moved sharply against Jerusalem may now move back toward strategic friendship.

America, Israel, And De La Espriella

The result also fits a wider regional trend. Pro-American and pro-Israel conservatives are gaining strength across Latin America.

That trend matters for both Washington and Jerusalem. The United States and Israel need allies who understand terrorism, sovereignty, border security, and the threat of anti-Western ideology.

President Donald Trump welcomed De La Espriella’s rise, and Israel supporters saw the result as good news. Ultimately, Colombia’s election may reopen a door that Petro tried to close.