The rise of right-wing governments in Latin America has brought the region closer to Israel, creating opportunities for the Jewish State to reintegrate into the international community after a period of relative isolation. Encouraged by the United States, Latin American governments are pursuing reconciliation with Israel.

In Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella restored relations with Israel, which former president Gustavo Petro had severed in protest against actions in Gaza. He also made Colombia the second country to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a step previously taken only by the US during Donald Trump’s first term. In Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez restored consular ties with Israel. In Chile, José Antonio Kast reinstated military attachés in Israel, a post abolished by his predecessor, Gabriel Boric. In Argentina, Javier Milei proclaimed himself “the most Zionist president in the world.” Other right-wing figures, including El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele and Brazilian senator and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, have also declared themselves allies of Israel.

Israel’s main benefit from this rapprochement is political and diplomatic. After the war in Gaza, criticism and accusations of violations of international law and genocide left the country more isolated internationally. Aligning with Latin American governments helps bring Israel back onto the international stage.

While Israel sees this as a way to escape international ostracism, Latin American countries are seeking access to Israel’s expertise in defense, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Beyond this, the rapprochement also serves an ideological agenda.

The current Latin American pivot towards Israel stems from the “Blue Tide,” the label for the region’s political shift toward right-wing, conservative, and free-market leaders. Israel provides Latin American leaders with domestic political gains by aligning with the interests of conservative and evangelical groups that form part of their electoral bases.

Internationally, the rapprochement aligns with Washington’s interest in strengthening one of its main Middle East allies.

In addition, opportunities for commercial and technical cooperation exist, particularly in defense, monitoring, and public security. Regional governments may be interested in Israeli technologies for geolocation, surveillance, and police use. Brazilian security forces have purchased equipment from Israeli companies, and the government of Tarcísio de Freitas in São Paulo has invested about $7,500,000 in Israeli weapons and software for the state’s Military Police since 2023.

The pursuit of Israeli technologies should not be viewed solely as a response to crime concerns. Rather, it reflects how each Latin American administration understands and addresses the issue, linking security with Washington.

However, political rapprochement does not necessarily mean these partnerships will expand immediately, and it remains unclear whether ties between Israel and Latin America will survive political transitions. Unlike Washington’s long-standing partnership with Jerusalem, rapprochement between Latin American governments and Israel depends largely on each leader’s ideological affinities with the US. As a result, Latin American-Israeli relations are more vulnerable to electoral shifts, as demonstrated by the current rise of right-wing and conservative governments that support Israel. Such shifts could therefore affect the level of cooperation.

Washington’s ability to exert influence also shapes this relationship. US support for Israel is expected to continue after Trump leaves the White House, but efforts to bring Israel closer to Latin American countries could intensify or ease depending on changes in the US electoral landscape, including the midterms scheduled for next month.

Trump has prioritized expanding Israel’s partnerships and reducing its international isolation. During his first term, he did so by forging ties with Arab states through the Abraham Accords, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Nonetheless, the continuity of Israeli ties with Latin America will depend on the political affinities of these governments.

The outcome of Brazil’s second-round presidential election, scheduled for October 25, carries outsized weight for the region’s position with Israel. As Latin America’s largest, richest, and most populous country, Brazil exerts significant influence over regional foreign policy. Flávio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party candidate challenging incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, inherits and openly embraces a pro-US and pro-Israel stance. Bolsonaro’s likely victory will therefore accelerate diplomatic rapprochement with Israel and reinforce and consolidate the right-wing “Blue Tide” across the region.

The strength of this Latin American opening for Israel depends on political cycles. As long as right-leaning governments in Latin America remain in power and submit to Washington, relations with Israel will deepen. In this sense, the “Blue Tide” has given Israel a temporary diplomatic foothold, enabling its reintegration into the international community. However, if a third left-wing “Pink Tide” were to emerge, it would likely spell the end of Israel’s rapprochement with Latin America.

*

Click the share button below to email/forward this article. Follow us on Instagram and X and subscribe to our Telegram Channel. Feel free to repost Global Research articles with proper attribution.

Ahmed Adel is a Cairo-based geopolitics and political economy researcher. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.

Global Research is a reader-funded media. We do not accept any funding from corporations or governments. Help us stay afloat. Click the image below to make a one-time or recurring donation.