South Africa Loses Key Ally as Colombia Closes Embassy in Pretoria

South Africa is losing one of its closest international partners in its diplomatic campaign against Israel. This follows Colombia’s newly elected president, Abelardo de la Espriella, announcing the closure of his country’s embassy in Pretoria as part of a sweeping foreign policy overhaul.

The decision comes just 18 months after South Africa and Colombia co-founded The Hague Group, a coalition established to coordinate legal, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Israel over the war in Gaza. Under outgoing President Gustavo Petro, Colombia emerged as one of Pretoria’s strongest allies, backing South Africa’s “genocide” case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

While Bogotá has said the embassy closure forms part of a cost-cutting exercise, analysts say it also reflects a dramatic shift in foreign policy under De la Espriella, who has pledged to restore relations with Israel, strengthen ties with the United States, and reverse many of Petro’s pro-Palestinian policies.

Benji Shulman, executive director of the Middle East Africa Research Institute, says South Africa and Colombia’s relationship had become significantly stronger under Petro because of their shared position on Israel.

“Given South Africa’s close coordination with Colombia’s previous government in The Hague Group, which was designed to target Israel using the fig leaf of international law, it seems likely the new Colombian government no longer sees the same value in that diplomatic relationship,” Shulman says.

Shulman says that historically, relations between the two countries had been relatively limited because of geographical distance and modest trade.

“What strengthened the relationship over the past few years was ideological cooperation against Israel. The new government’s closer alignment with the United States, together with South Africa’s strained relationship with Washington and relatively limited trade between the two countries, means that once there is no longer the same ideological cooperation, reducing diplomatic representation becomes a logical part of Colombia’s broader recalibration of its international relations,” he says.

Under Petro, Colombia became one of Israel’s fiercest critics, severing diplomatic relations in May 2024, and repeatedly accusing Israel of “genocide”. When The Hague Group was established in January 2025, South Africa and Colombia co-chaired the coalition. Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, and Senegal are also members. The group’s stated objectives include supporting proceedings against Israel before the ICJ, backing International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, and coordinating measures to restrict arms transfers.

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