Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has marked his first month in office with a dramatic shift in foreign policy, recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights (Syrian territory occupied since 1967 and annexed by Israel in 1981) — making Colombia only the second country after the United States to do so — while also restoring diplomatic ties with Israel that his predecessor Gustavo Petro had severed, and recognising Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. On the security front, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Bogotá had authorised American military operations on Colombian soil, though no Colombian official has publicly confirmed the terms, and de la Espriella has joined Trump's Shield of the Americas counter-narcotics initiative ahead of a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Analysts have warned the rapid realignment carries risks, with one describing it as "pre-emptive diplomacy to please" and another cautioning that recognising the Golan Heights could cost Colombia support at the United Nations.