Colombia Suspends Coal Exports to Israel Due to War in Gaza

In a significant geopolitical development, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Saturday that Colombia will suspend coal exports to Israel in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. 

This decision marks a dramatic shift in relations between two countries that were previously close military and commercial allies.

President Petro made the announcement on the social media platform X, stating that coal exports would only resume “when the genocide” in Gaza stops. 

He also shared a draft decree indicating that coal exports would only recommence if Israel complies with a recent order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to immediately halt its military operations in Rafah, which pose a risk to the civilian population sheltering there. 

Israel, however, denies allegations that its military actions constitute genocide, asserting that its operations are focused on terror groups that operate within civilian areas.

The Colombian government has clarified that the coal export ban will take effect five days after the decree's publication in the official gazette and will not affect shipments already authorized. 

Colombia emphasized coal’s strategic importance in the manufacture of weapons, troop mobilization, and provisioning for military operations.

Economic implications of this decision are substantial, although coal exports to Israel constitute a small fraction of Colombia’s overall coal exports. 

According to Colombia’s National Statistics Department, coal exports to Israel amounted to more than $320 million in the first eight months of the previous year, a minor segment compared to the nation's total coal exports, which exceeded $9 billion in 2023. 

Nevertheless, Israel relies heavily on Colombian coal, importing more than 50 percent of its coal from Colombia, primarily to fuel its power plants.

President Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president elected in 2022, had previously severed diplomatic ties with Israel in May, condemning the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “genocidal.” 

Despite the strained relations, both countries have maintained consulates in each other’s territories and continued trade. 

Historically, Colombia has depended on Israel for military hardware, including assault rifles and intelligence equipment, and has purchased over 30 fighter jets from Israel in the past three decades. 

However, new military purchases have been halted amidst the diplomatic fallout.

Critics argue that Petro’s decision to cut ties with Israel jeopardizes Colombia’s security capabilities, especially as its military contends with drug cartels and rebel groups in rural areas. 

The Colombian Mining Association has also expressed concern, noting that a trade treaty between the two nations has been in place since 2020. 

The association highlighted Israel as a key destination for Colombia’s thermal coal exports and warned that the ban could undermine market confidence and foreign investment.

On the other hand, some have lauded Petro’s move. 

The Global Energy Embargo for Palestine, an advocacy group campaigning for nations to halt coal and oil exports to Israel, commended Colombia’s decision, suggesting it could pressure Israel to alter its policies in Gaza and affect Israeli settlements in the West Bank reliant on coal-fueled electric plants.

The decision comes against the backdrop of a brutal conflict. 

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports over 36,000 deaths or presumed deaths in Gaza, including about 15,000 alleged terror operatives killed by Israel. 

Meanwhile, Israel recounts a massacre by Hamas on October 7, where approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 hostages were taken, leading to the ongoing war. 

Israeli casualties include 295 IDF soldiers, one police officer, and a civilian contractor killed during the ground offensive and operations along the Gaza border.

This suspension of coal exports by Colombia represents a bold political stance and underscores the complexities and far-reaching impacts of the Israel-Gaza conflict on international relations and global trade.