Colombia, following the United States, has become the second country in the world to recognize Israel's claims to the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in 1967. This decision was announced by Colombia's new far-right government on Monday, August 10. "The Government of Colombia recognizes Israel's sovereignty over this territory, as well as the right of this state to defend itself against external threats," stated the Colombian Foreign Ministry in a statement published on the X platform. Additionally, authorities in Bogotá noted that "maintaining control and sovereignty of Israel over the Golan Heights is an important component of its national defense." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanked the newly inaugurated Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella for this decision, which was agreed upon in the Colombian city of Barranquilla a day before the inauguration. De la Espriella's predecessor, the far-left former head of state Gustavo Petro, sharply criticized Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip, suspended diplomatic relations with Israel, and halted the import of Israeli weapons into Colombia. ## ## Dispute Over the Golan Heights The Golan Heights has been a disputed territory in the Middle East for several decades. Israel captured a significant portion of the Golan Heights during the Six-Day War against a coalition of Arab states in 1967 and annexed it in 1981. The United States became the only country to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019. In July, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed that the Golan Heights is part of Syria, calling the Israeli occupation "completely unacceptable."