Colombia: president-elect De La Espriella breaks with Cuba and closes 14 embassies

On July 26, 2026, Colombian president-elect Abelardo De La Espriella announced the closure of 14 embassies and around fifteen consulates worldwide. Only diplomatic relations with Cuba and Nicaragua are fully severed; the other closures, including Haiti, South Africa, Malaysia and several European and African countries, do not entail breaking diplomatic ties. De La Espriella, who succeeds Gustavo Petro, takes office on August 7, 2026, in a ceremony moved from Popayan to Cali because of activity at the Purace volcano. He also announced the reopening of Colombia's embassy in Israel, located in Jerusalem.