Conservative, pro-Israel candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia’s presidential election, defeating far-left candidate Iván Cepeda in a major political shift that ends the presidency of Gustavo Petro, one of Israel’s fiercest critics in Latin America.

A close ally of President Donald Trump, de la Espriella has pledged to restore diplomatic ties with Israel after Petro severed relations in 2024, strengthen security cooperation with Jerusalem, and adopt a hardline anti-crime strategy modeled on El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.

Petro’s presidency was marked by repeated attacks on Israel, including comparing it to Nazi Germany, accusing it of “genocide,” refusing to condemn Hamas after the October 7 massacre, and posting “Heil Hitler” on social media during the campaign.

Petro and Cepeda have vowed to challenge the election results, with the outgoing president alleging, without evidence, that Israel hacked Colombia’s voting system and interfered in the election. Despite the accusations, no presidential recount has ever overturned a Colombian presidential election. Trump celebrated de la Espriella’s victory with a brief post: “He Won, BIG!”

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