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Colombia has go nan latest Latin American state to denote that it will break negotiated relations pinch Israel complete its subject run successful Gaza, but nan repercussions for nan South American federation could beryllium broader than for different countries because of longstanding bilateral agreements complete information matters.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro connected Wednesday described Israel’s actions successful Gaza arsenic "genocide," and announced his authorities would extremity negotiated relations pinch Israel effective Thursday. But he didn't reside really his determination could impact Colombia’s military, which uses Israeli-built warplanes and instrumentality guns to conflict supplier cartels and rebel groups, and a free waste and acquisition statement betwixt some countries that went into effect successful 2020.
Also successful nan region, Bolivia and Belize person severed negotiated relations pinch Israel complete nan Israel-Hamas war.
COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT SAYS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF AMMUNITION HAVE GONE MISSING FROM MILITARY BASES
Here’s a look astatine Colombia's adjacent Israel ties and fallout:
WHY IS SECURITY COOPERATION BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND ISRAEL IMPORTANT?
Colombia and Israel person signed dozens of agreements connected wide-ranging issues, including acquisition and trade, since they established negotiated relations successful 1957. But thing links them person than subject contracts.
Colombia’s combatant jets are each Israeli-built. The much than 20 Kfir Israeli-made combatant jets were utilized by its aerial unit successful galore attacks connected distant guerrilla camps that debilitated nan Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The attacks helped push nan rebel group into bid talks that resulted successful its disarmament successful 2016.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks astatine nan International Workers' Day march successful Bogota, Colombia, connected May 1, 2024. Petro connected Wednesday announced his authorities would extremity negotiated relations pinch Israel. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
But nan fleet, purchased successful nan precocious 1980s, is aging and requires maintenance, which tin only beryllium carried retired by an Israeli firm. Manufacturers successful France, Sweden and nan United States person approached Colombia’s authorities pinch replacement options, but nan spending priorities of Petro’s management are elsewhere.
Colombia’s subject besides uses Galil rifles, which were designed successful Israel and for which Colombia acquired nan authorities to manufacture and sell. Israel besides assists nan South American state pinch its cybersecurity needs.
WILL PETRO’S ANNOUNCEMENT AFFECT COLOMBIA’S MILITARY-RELATED CONTRACTS WITH ISRAEL?
It remains unclear.
Colombia's Foreign Ministry said Thursday successful a connection that "all communications related to this announcement will beryllium made done established charismatic channels and will not beryllium public." The ministry didn't instantly respond to a petition for remark from The Associated Press, while nan Israeli Embassy successful Bogota declined to reside nan issue.
However, a time earlier Petro announced his decision, Colombian Defense Minister Iván Velásquez told lawmakers that nary caller contracts will beryllium signed pinch Israel, though existing ones will beryllium fulfilled, including those for attraction for nan Kfir fighters and 1 for rocket systems.
Velásquez said nan authorities has established a "transition" committee that would activity to "diversify" suppliers to debar depending connected Israel. He added that 1 of nan possibilities nether information is nan improvement of a firearm by nan Colombian subject manufacture to switch nan Galil.
Security practice has been astatine nan halfway of tensions betwixt nan 2 countries. Israel said successful October that it would halt information exports to Colombia aft Petro refused to condemn Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack connected confederate Israel that triggered nan warfare and compared Israel’s actions successful Gaza to those of Nazi Germany. In February, Petro announced nan suspension of arms purchases from Israel.
For retired Gen. Guillermo León, erstwhile commandant of nan Colombian aerial force, nan country's subject capabilities will beryllium affected if Petro's management breaks its statement obligations aliases moreover if it complies pinch them but refuses to motion caller ones.
"At nan extremity of nan year, attraction and spare parts tally out, and from past on, nan fleet would quickly participate a information wherever we would nary longer person nan intends to prolong it," he told nan AP. "This year, 3 craft were withdrawn from work owed to compliance pinch their useful life cycle."
WHAT IS THE TRADE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES?
A free trade agreement betwixt Colombia and Israel went into effect successful August 2020. Israel now buys 1% of Colombia’s full exports, which see coal, java and flowers.
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According to Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, exports to Israel past twelvemonth totaled $499 million, which represents a driblet of 53% from 2022.
Colombia’s imports from Israel see electrical equipment, plastics and fertilizers.
Neither authorities has explained whether nan negotiated feud will impact nan waste and acquisition agreement.
