BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Colombia has become the latest Latin American country to announce severing ties with Israel over military operations in Gaza, but long-standing issues have affected other South American countries. may be wider than the country of Bilateral agreements on security issues.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and announced that his government would end diplomatic relations with Israel starting Thursday. But he is concerned about how his decision affects the Colombian military, which uses Israeli-made fighter jets and machine guns to fight drug cartels and rebels, and the free trade agreement between the two countries that took effect in 2020. He did not say whether it might have an impact.
In this region, Bolivia and Belize have also severed diplomatic relations with Israel due to the Israel-Hamas war.
Here we look at the close relationship between Colombia and Israel and its impact.
Why is security cooperation between Colombia and Israel important?
Since Colombia and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1957, they have signed dozens of agreements on a wide range of issues, including education and trade. But nothing binds the two countries more closely than military agreements.
All Colombian fighter jets are Israeli-made. More than 20 Kfir Israeli fighter jets were used by the Air Force in repeated attacks on remote guerrilla camps that weakened the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The attacks helped force the rebels into peace negotiations, leading to their disarmament in 2016.
However, the fleet, purchased in the late 1980s, is aging and in need of maintenance, which only an Israeli company can perform. Manufacturers from France, Sweden and the United States have approached the Colombian government about alternative options, but the Petro government’s spending priorities lie elsewhere.
The Colombian military also uses the Galil rifle, which was designed in Israel and Colombia has the rights to manufacture and sell. Israel is also assisting the South American country with its cybersecurity needs.
story continues
Will Petro’s announcement affect military contracts between Colombia and Israel?
It remains unknown.
“All communications related to this announcement will be made through established official channels and will not be made public,” Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Thursday. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press, while the Israeli embassy in Bogota declined to discuss the matter.
But the day before Petro announced its decision, Colombian Defense Minister Iván Velázquez told lawmakers that there would be no new contracts with Israel, but that existing contracts, including the maintenance of Kfir fighter jets and missile systems, would be fulfilled. Told.
Velasquez said the government had set up a “transition” committee aimed at “diversifying” suppliers to avoid dependence on Israel. He added that one of the possibilities being considered is the development of a rifle by Colombian military industry to replace the Galil.
Security cooperation is at the center of tensions between the two countries. Israel moved to Colombia in October after Petro condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the war and refused to liken Israel’s actions in Gaza to those of Nazi Germany. announced the suspension of security exports. In February, Petro announced a suspension of arms purchases from Israel.
For retired Gen. Guillermo León, the former commander of Colombia’s air force, the country’s military will face consequences if the Petro regime breaks its contractual obligations or refuses to sign new contracts even if it honors them. I’ll take it.
“At the end of the year there will be no maintenance or spare parts, and from then on the fleet will quickly find itself without the means to maintain itself,” he told The Associated Press. The aircraft was taken out of service as it complied with its service life. ”
What is the trade relationship between the two countries?
The free trade agreement between Colombia and Israel entered into force in August 2020. Israel currently buys 1% of Colombia’s total exports, including coal, coffee and flowers.
According to Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, exports to Israel totaled $499 million last year, down 53% from 2022.
Colombia’s imports from Israel include electrical equipment, plastics and fertilizers.
The two governments have not explained whether the diplomatic feud will affect the trade deal.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america.
Astrid Suarez, Associated Press
