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Colombia Breaks Ties With Israel 05/03 06:18
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Colombia has become the latest Latin American
country to announce it will break diplomatic relations with Israel over its
military campaign in Gaza, but the repercussions for the South American nation
could be broader than for other countries due to longstanding bilateral
agreements over security matters.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday described Israel's actions in
Gaza as "genocide" and announced his government would end diplomatic relations
with Israel effective Thursday. But he did not address how his decision could
affect Colombia's military, which uses Israeli-built warplanes and machine guns
to fight drug cartels and rebel groups, and a free trade agreement between both
countries that went into effect in 2020.
Also in the region, Bolivia and Belize have also severed diplomatic
relations with Israel over the Israel-Hamas war.
Here's a look at Colombia's close Israel ties and fallout:
WHY IS SECURITY COOPERATION BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND ISRAEL IMPORTANT?
Colombia and Israel have signed dozens of agreements on wide-ranging issues,
including education and trade, since they established diplomatic relations in
1957. But nothing links them closer than military contracts.
Colombia's fighter jets are all Israeli-built. The more than 20 Kfir
Israeli-made fighter jets were used by its air force in numerous attacks on
remote guerrilla camps that debilitated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia. The attacks helped push the rebel group into peace talks that
resulted in its disarmament in 2016.
But the fleet, purchased in the late 1980s, is aging and requires
maintenance, which can only be carried out by an Israeli firm. Manufacturers in
France, Sweden and the United States have approached Colombia's government with
replacement options, but the spending priorities of Petro's administration are
elsewhere.
Colombia's military also uses Galil rifles, which were designed in Israel
and for which Colombia acquired the rights to manufacture and sell. Israel also
assists the South American country with its cybersecurity needs.
WILL PETRO'S ANNOUNCEMENT AFFECT COLOMBIA'S MILITARY-RELATED CONTRACTS WITH
ISRAEL?
It remains unclear.
Colombia's Foreign Ministry said Thursday in a statement that "all
communications related to this announcement will be made through established
official channels and will not be public." The ministry did not immediately
respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press, while the Israeli
Embassy in Bogota declined to address the issue.
However, a day before Petro announced his decision, Colombian Defense
Minister Ivn Velsquez told lawmakers that no new contracts will be signed
with Israel, though existing ones will be fulfilled, including those for
maintenance for the Kfir fighters and one for missile systems.
Velsquez said the government has established a "transition" committee that
would seek to "diversify" suppliers to avoid depending on Israel. He added that
one of the possibilities under consideration is the development of a rifle by
the Colombian military industry to replace the Galil.
Security cooperation has been at the center of tensions between the two
countries. Israel said in October that it would halt security exports to
Colombia after Petro refused to condemn Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel
that triggered the war and compared Israel's actions in Gaza to those of Nazi
Germany. In February, Petro announced the suspension of arms purchases from
Israel.
For retired Gen. Guillermo Len, former commander of the Colombian air
force, the country's military capabilities will be affected if Petro's
administration breaks its contract obligations or even if it complies with them
but refuses to sign new ones.
"At the end of the year, maintenance and spare parts run out, and from then
on, the fleet would rapidly enter a condition where we would no longer have the
means to sustain it," he told AP. "This year, three aircraft were withdrawn
from service due to compliance with their useful life cycle."
WHAT IS THE TRADE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES?
A free trade agreement between Colombia and Israel went into effect in
August 2020. Israel now buys 1% of Colombia's total exports, which include
coal, coffee and flowers.
According to Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, exports to Israel last year
totaled $499 million, which represents a drop of 53% from 2022.
Colombia's imports from Israel include electrical equipment, plastics and
fertilizers.
Neither government has explained whether the diplomatic feud will affect the
trade agreement.
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