Full Breakdown
Latin America’s Diplomatic Shift Toward Israel
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Core Realignment: Embassy Moves and New Partnerships
Since 2023, a wave of right-wing leaders in Latin America has reversed earlier policies that isolated Israel. On October 8, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that Colombia would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, signaling a broader regional trend. In August, Venezuela restored consular relations with Israel after nearly two decades of antagonism. Bolivia, Chile and Honduras have likewise re-appointed ambassadors and, in several cases, shifted their embassies to Jerusalem. Brazil’s president-elect is expected to follow suit, while Argentina’s Javier Milei has pledged the same move.
Background and Context
Left-wing administrations in the region previously cut military cooperation, halted coal exports and supported legal actions against Israel following the Gaza war that began on October 7, 2023. The election of right-wing figures such as Milei in Argentina, Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil and Nasry Asfura in Honduras has coincided with a resurgence of pro-Israel sentiment. Experts attribute the shift to a “convergence” of three forces: right-wing leaders seeking validation from Washington, evangelical constituencies providing electoral backing, and an Israeli diplomatic offensive that finds fertile ground as its image deteriorates elsewhere.
Data and Statistics
- Countries that have at one point backed South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice: Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Belize, Cuba and Nicaragua (eight governments).
- The Evangelical Parliamentary Front in Brazil controls more than 40 % of the Chamber of Deputies and over a quarter of the Senate.
- Evangelical populations in Honduras and Guatemala each approach 40 % of the national populace, and both governments have moved their embassies to Jerusalem.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We will work hard because this is the diplomatic battle over the truth,” — Gideon Saar, israeli foreign minister
- “They find common ground with Israel on a lot of these things,” — Alexander Main
- “Before, you had left-wing politicians in these regions that have seen what has happened in Gaza and called that war crimes and human rights abuses,” — Alexander Main
- “Those constituencies have become increasingly politicised in recent years, to the point it is beneficial for politicians to court them and one of the ways they can do that is rallying behind Israel,” — Alexander Main
Criticism & Opposition
Former Colombian president Gustavo Petro, who severed ties with Israel and halted coal exports, condemned the Gaza war as “genocidal” and pursued an embassy to Palestine. His successor, Abelardo de la Espriella, reversed those policies within weeks of taking office, illustrating the rapid swing possible in Latin American foreign ministries.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree that right-wing governments are moving embassies and restoring ties, but they differ on the extent to which U.S. lobbying versus domestic evangelical pressure drives each country’s decision. No single source quantifies the relative weight of these influences, leaving the precise causal hierarchy unclear.