Colombia to Halt Coal Exports to Israel in Response to Gaza War

In a significant shift in international relations, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Saturday a suspension of coal exports to Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This move marks a departure from the historically strong military and commercial ties between Colombia and Israel. President Petro, leveraging the social media platform X, stated that coal exports would remain halted until the cessation of what he termed "genocide" in Gaza.

The draft decree shared by Petro underscores that the resumption of coal exports hinges on Israel adhering to a recent directive from the International Court of Justice, which mandates an Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Data from Colombia's National Statistics Department highlighted that coal exports to Israel accounted for over $320 million in the initial eight months of the previous year, a modest portion of Colombia's total coal exports valued at more than $9 billion in 2023.

Israel, which sources over half of its coal imports from Colombia as reported by the American Journal for Transportation, relies heavily on this resource for powering its electricity plants. The decision by Petro, Colombia's first leftist president elected in 2022, to sever diplomatic relations with Israel in May over disagreements with the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has further strained relations. Despite this, both nations have maintained consulates and continued trade engagements.

Historically, Colombia has been dependent on Israel for military supplies, including assault rifles and intelligence apparatus. Additionally, Colombia has procured more than 30 fighter jets from Israel over the past three decades and relies on Israeli firms for their upkeep. However, new military acquisitions have been paused amid deteriorating diplomatic relations.

Critics of President Petro argue that his stance against Israel could compromise Colombia's security infrastructure as it combats drug cartels and insurgent groups within its borders. Unlike his predecessors who maintained robust relations with Israel, Petro has been vocal in his criticism of the Middle Eastern country and initially refrained from denouncing the Hamas attack that led to Israel's invasion of Gaza.