BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Escalating tensions between Colombia and Israel over the Gaza war could undo decades of close military ties between them and hamper Colombia’s ability to fight drug traffickers and rebels, security analysts say. Israel has been one of Colombia’s main suppliers of war planes, surveillance equipment and assault rifles since the 1990s. “It will be debilitating and extremely costly,” said Jorge Restrepo, the director of CERAC, a security think tank in Bogota. “Colombia continues to face a plethora of internal security challenges, and they need a strong military with various capabilities” Sánchez said. “If we must suspend relations with Israel, then that is what we will do,” Petro wrote on the social media platform X.

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Persons: Gustavo Petro, ”, Jorge Restrepo, Erich Saumeth Cadavid, Cadavid, Wilder Alejandro Sánchez, ” Sánchez, Sánchez, ” Petro, Petro’s, Diego Molano, “ Petro, Sergio Guzmán, Petro Organizations: Analysts, Colombia’s Defense Ministry, IAI, Boeing, Revolutionary Armed Forces, EMC Locations: BOGOTA, Colombia, Israel, Gaza, Nazi Germany, Bogota, “, Colombian, France, Sweden, United States, Gulf, Washington, Palestine, America, Caribbean