Colombia's far-right president Abelardo de la Espriella recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights on Monday. “The Government of Colombia recognises Israeli sovereignty over this territory, as well as that State’s right to protect itself against external threats,” read an online statement. It added that, “Colombia recognises that maintaining Israel’s control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights is an essential component of its national defence.” The Golan Heights is a Syrian territory occupied by Israel since Syria's defeat in the 1967 war against Israel. The Syrian foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it "categorically rejects and condemns" Colombia's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights and said that the area "is an inseparable part of [Syrian] territory".