Colombia and Israel will share a relationship "like never before" once hard-right president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella takes office, he has said.
"Colombia will restore and strengthen its relationship with the State of Israel like never before," the millionaire lawyer posted on X on Wednesday following a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
De la Espriella won Sunday's runoff presidential vote against leftist senator Ivan Cepeda by less than a percentage point and has promised to strengthen the South American country's ties to the United States and Israel.
Bogota's relations with Tel Aviv nosedived under Colombia's first-ever leftist government led by President Gustavo Petro, an ardent critic of Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Petro severed diplomatic ties, halted coal exports to the country and suspended the purchase of weaponry from Israel — formerly one of Colombia's main military partners.
De la Espriella has said he will reverse these decisions, and one of his main campaign pledges was to form a military alliance with Washington and Tel Aviv.
White House-backed De la Espriella has never held public office before and will take the reins from Petro in August.
Split verdict
Colombia is enduring the worst levels of violence in a decade, and the president-elect won the election by vowing a heavy hand on the country's myriad armed groups.
In an interview with the AFP news agency during the campaign, he said he would seek US and Israeli support to conduct bombing campaigns on guerrillas.
Experts consulted by AFP have cast doubt on De la Espriella's ability to fulfill his promises.
He is taking the helm of a deeply divided country, with the political left — which won almost half the votes on Sunday — threatening massive protests against his policies.
On Wednesday, Cepeda conceded in the country's presidential race, saying that political differences should be solved with respect and dialogue, though he accused his rival of vote-buying.
Cepeda, however, warned that he would reject "any attempt at authoritarian subjugation" under the incoming administration.
"We will resort, if necessary, to resistance and peaceful civil disobedience," he said.
