Story perspectives

Colombia closes 14 embassies, severs Cuba, Nicaragua ties.

7/28/2026

Summary

Espriella Shuts Embassies

Abelardo de la Espriella will close 14 embassies and 15 consulates on August 7, 2026.
He will sever relations with Cuba and Nicaragua, calling them tyrannies.
He pledged to reopen the embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, cancel embassy to Palestine, and open one in Nigeria.
He will merge Paris and Rome missions with UNESCO and FAO, audit in 100 days, and redirect savings to security, health, education and infrastructure for poorest Colombians.

Summary

Espriella Closes Embassies

Abelardo de la Espriella disclosed on July 26, 2026 that he will close 14 diplomatic missions in a post on his personal social-media account.
The state-run network Telesur first published the president-elect’s list of embassies slated for closure, which the Caspian Post later ran citing Telesur.
By using both his personal social-media channel and regional news services, de la Espriella ensured the policy shift reached domestic and international audiences simultaneously.

History

Historical Context

On 3 January 1961 President John F. Kennedy severed U.S. diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba, closing the Havana embassy and saving roughly $2 million. The cut mirrored a 1961 Latin American trend—Venezuela and Colombia broke ties after the Bay of Pigs—giving historical precedent to President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s 26 July 2026 plan to shut fourteen embassies, fifteen consulates and end relations with Cuba and Nicaragua.

1 of 3

Espriella Shuts Embassies

Abelardo de la Espriella will close 14 embassies and 15 consulates on August 7, 2026.
He will sever relations with Cuba and Nicaragua, calling them tyrannies.
He pledged to reopen the embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, cancel embassy to Palestine, and open one in Nigeria.
He will merge Paris and Rome missions with UNESCO and FAO, audit in 100 days, and redirect savings to security, health, education and infrastructure for poorest Colombians.

1 / 3