Why are Latin American countries building closer ties with Israel?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that several Latin American governments are reorienting their diplomacy toward Israel after a period in which many leaders had distanced themselves over Israel’s war on Gaza. The article says the shift is most visible in countries where new right-wing or pro-Israel leaders have replaced left-wing administrations, including Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Honduras and Venezuela. It notes that some governments are considering or have already announced moves such as relocating embassies to Jerusalem, restoring ambassadorial posts or renewing consular links.

In Colombia, the outgoing government of Gustavo Petro cut ties with Israel, while his successor, Abelardo de la Espriella, has moved quickly to restore relations, according to the report. In Argentina, President Javier Milei has openly aligned himself with Israel and pledged to move the embassy to Jerusalem. The article also says new leaders in Bolivia, Chile, Honduras and Venezuela have reversed earlier anti-Israel measures or softened their positions.

Al Jazeera says the change is not driven by one factor alone. Experts cited in the piece point to a mix of political signaling toward the United States under Donald Trump, domestic electoral strategy, and lobbying by evangelical Christian groups and Israeli-backed organizations. The story also places these shifts in a broader regional context, where some Latin American governments had supported legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice. It argues the diplomacy reflects wider realignments in the hemisphere and the growing influence of pro-Trump, pro-Israel politics.