Colombia, Latin America's second-largest Spanish-speaking country after Mexico, shares few obvious traits with Slovenia, the compact Alpine nation that ranks among the smallest former Yugoslav republics.

Yet their evolving approaches toward Israel reveal striking similarities.

Left-leaning governments in both nations that had championed Palestinian causes were replaced by right-wing administrations within a single month, each pledging to revive complete diplomatic engagement with Israel and to open embassies in Jerusalem.

Colombia's incoming foreign minister, Omar Bola Escobar, made that commitment clear during talks in Washington with Israeli official Gideon Saar. President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella reinforced the message, stating that ties with Israel would reach unprecedented levels after his inauguration on August 7.

Janez Jansa takes power in Slovenia after election victory

Slovenia, with roughly 2.1 million residents, recognized a Palestinian state in mid-2024 shortly after similar moves by Spain, Ireland and Norway. Months later the public broadcaster RTV called for Israel's removal from the 2025 Eurovision contest and later boycotted the event while airing Palestinian-themed programming.

The previous government under Robert Golob also halted imports from West Bank settlements and ended arms trade with Israel, marking the first such EU measures.

Those policies created unease among Slovenia's small Jewish population of about 100 people, according to community president Robert Waltl.

Following parliamentary elections, Janez Jansa of the Slovenian Democratic Party assembled a right-wing coalition and assumed the premiership on May 22. He promptly reversed course, withdrawing recognition of Palestine and relocating Slovenia's embassy to Jerusalem, the first EU member to do so.

Israel will open its own embassy in Ljubljana for the first time.

Waltl welcomed the development but said concrete actions will matter more than initial statements. World Jewish Congress executive Ernest Herzog described the shift as historically significant, noting Israel's early recognition of Slovenian independence in 1991.

In Colombia the change appears even sharper. Outgoing President Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla, cut diplomatic relations with Israel in May 2024 and suspended coal exports and weapons transactions. Ambassador Margarita Manjarrez closed the Tel Aviv embassy at the end of June while consular services continued.

De la Espriella set to open Colombian embassy in Jerusalem

Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly defeated Petro's chosen successor and will take office on August 7. He has pledged to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, joining eight other nations already represented there.

Analyst Harry Toledo observed that recent Latin American governments have used the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to divert attention from domestic issues. He noted Petro faced U.S. sanctions over alleged drug ties.

Regional expert Michael Shifter pointed out that right-wing candidates have won 12 of Latin America's last 15 elections, driven largely by voter frustration with economic and security shortcomings rather than pure ideology.

Former U.S. ambassador Mike Skol suggested Colombia's new direction aligns with a broader regional turn against socialism and could yield close cooperation with Washington on multiple fronts, including Israel policy.

Observers also see potential for renewed Venezuelan ties with Israel, especially after recent humanitarian cooperation following earthquakes in that country.