The government of Abelardo de la Espriella continues to take action to strengthen relations with Israel. After opening Colombia’s embassy in Jerusalem, something few nations do, it announced that it is withdrawing the country from The Hague Group, which, according to the Colombian Foreign Ministry, was “created to isolate and attack Israel.”
“We reject that approach,” stated Foreign Minister Omar Bula. On the contrary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Republic of Colombia reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism, international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
It also expressed its willingness to “continue contributing to the promotion of international peace, justice, and security within the framework of the United Nations system.”
Israel, at the Center of The Hague Group’s Actions
The Hague Group was established on January 31, 2025, by Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa. However, to date, in addition to Colombia, Bolivia and Honduras have already withdrawn from the global bloc.
The Foreign Ministry did not specify when the withdrawal would take effect or detail the diplomatic consequences the decision would have for Colombia’s participation in other international forums.
On the day of its launch, The Hague Group stated that its mission was to undertake “collective action through coordinated legal and diplomatic measures at the national and international levels” to hold Israel accountable “for its grave violations of international law against the Palestinian people.”
Other statements that help explain its purpose were those made by Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, who said that the formation of The Hague Group sent “a clear message: no nation is above the law, and no crime will go unpunished.”
Yvonne Dausab, Namibia’s Minister of Justice, said, for her part, that “when future generations ask us about our contribution to Palestine’s right to self-determination, our answer must be that we took concrete action, or we will be remembered as leaders who stood by and did nothing.”
Another voice was that of Mariam Tavassoli Zea, adviser to the Honduran Foreign Minister, who maintained that her country had joined The Hague Group “to jointly coordinate efforts that will allow us to prevent and punish the genocide Israel is committing.”
In general, the premise guiding The Hague Group can be summarized in a brief text found on its website: “The choice is clear: either we act together to uphold international law, or we risk its collapse. We choose to act, not only for the people of Gaza, but for the future of a world in which justice prevails over impunity.”
“May this moment mark the beginning of a renewed commitment to internationalism and the principles that unite us as a global community,” it concludes.
Colombia’s Policy Toward Israel Has Turned 180 Degrees
Furthermore, The Hague Group says it is guided by “the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the responsibility of all nations to defend inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination, recognized for all peoples.”
It also states that it refuses to “remain passive in the face of such international crimes” and is determined “to fulfill our obligations to end the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and support the realization of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to an independent State of Palestine.”
Since De la Espriella came to power in Colombia, he has turned the international policy pursued by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, 180 degrees. Colombia’s new government recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights as one of the first gestures by its Foreign Ministry toward Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
All of the above came after military and trade cooperation was reactivated. Colombia restored cooperative relations with Israel in security, defense, military equipment purchases, and trade agreements, reversing the diplomatic severance measures and treaty cancellations adopted under the Petro administration.