Israel and Colombia reactivate the free trade agreement

Tel Aviv - Ofoq News - Israel and Colombia announced the completion of official procedures to reactivate the free trade agreement between the two countries, in a step that comes as part of efforts to restore bilateral relations after a diplomatic crisis that witnessed the severing of relations in 2024.

The Hebrew newspaper "Davar 1" reported that the two countries exchanged the official memorandums necessary to restore the agreement to work, after it had entered into force in August 2020, before former Colombian President Gustavo Petro decided to cancel it.

This step comes as a continuation of the understandings reached by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and his Colombian counterpart, Omar Paula Escobar, during a meeting in Washington on July 15.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries resumed in August 2026, following the change of government in Colombia, and mutual visa requirements were canceled as of September 1.

The Colombian Foreign Minister is expected to arrive in Israel today, and tomorrow he will participate in the opening of his country's embassy in Jerusalem.

Sa'ar said that most of the negative effects left by Petro's rule on relations between the two countries were overcome within two months, thanking the new Colombian President, Abelardo de la Esparilla.