Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Israel during a May Day rally in Bogotá, attributing the decision to what he described as “genocide” in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This move marks a significant shift in Colombia’s foreign policy, especially given the history of close relations and military cooperation between the two countries. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, responded by accusing Petro of aligning with “despicable monsters,” further escalating the diplomatic rift. The World Jewish Congress has also criticized President Petro’s stance, claiming it disregards the plight of Israeli civilians and potentially incites antisemitism.

In addition to this, President Petro has confronted a major internal challenge as he disclosed significant losses of military ammunition in Colombia. Investigations revealed that hundreds of thousands of bullets, grenades, and anti-tank missiles have gone missing from two military bases, raising concerns about their potential use by rebel groups or criminal organizations, including Haitian gangs. Petro’s administration, troubled by accusations of internal corruption and compromised security within the armed forces, has pledged to address these issues vigorously.

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, Lord David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, expressed reservations about classifying Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, highlighting the complexities of maintaining diplomatic relations with Tehran. He emphasized the sufficiency of the existing sanctions regime against Iran in curbing illegal activities and stressed the importance of achieving a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

These developments depict significant diplomatic and security challenges facing both Colombia and the UK, with implications for regional stability and international relations.