Leftist Ivan Cepeda leads polls, while two right-wing rivals promise closer ties with Israel and tougher security amid rising violence, drone attacks and a looming runoff voteColombia was for decades a key ally of the United States and a stable source of support for Israel in Latin America, but the current president Gustavo Petro — the first left-wing leader ever to hold the office — has reversed course. Not only has he repeatedly clashed with President Donald Trump, he has also become one of Israel’s harshest critics on the international stage.Since the October 7 massacre and the war in Gaza, he has not only severed diplomatic ties with Israel, claiming “genocide” against the Palestinians, but also imposed sanctions including a ban on coal sales, joined South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and even called for the creation of a “large army to liberate Palestine.”15 View gallery The first round of elections will be held to decide his successor. The vote will determine Colombia’s future stance toward Israel (Photo: Luis ACOSTA / AFP, shutterstock, Sergio Yate / AFP, Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP)After four years in office, Petro is set to complete his term in August and is barred by the constitution from running for re-election. On Sunday, the first round of elections will be held to decide his successor. The vote will determine Colombia’s future stance toward Israel, with one leading candidate seeking to continue Petro’s anti-Israel line while his two right-wing rivals promise to restore ties. It is also viewed as a key test for the “conservative wave” sweeping Latin America, following right-wing victories in countries including Bolivia, Honduras, Chile and Costa Rica.15 View gallery Current Colombian President Gustavo Petro (Photo: REUTERS / Leonardo Fernandez Viloria)The race is also unfolding against the backdrop of growing regional involvement by Trump, including billions in aid to support his ally Javier Milei in Argentina’s elections last year and, in January, a high-profile operation to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.Three main candidates are competing. Polls predict a first-round win for the far-left senator Iván Cepeda, an ally of the outgoing president, who promises an even more “radical” version of Petro’s agenda.However, Cepeda is not expected to surpass 50% of the vote, meaning a decisive second round on June 21, where he would face one of two leading right-wing candidates. In second place is populist candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, a 47-year-old criminal lawyer and businessman who calls himself an outsider, describes himself as “the tiger that has awakened” and promises a military alliance with the United States and Israel to fight insurgent and criminal groups.In third place is Senator Paloma Valencia, a 48-year-old representative of the more moderate establishment right, who also promises to restore relations with Israel if elected.Colombia, with 53 million residents, is the third-largest country in Latin America by population. The central issue troubling voters is escalating violence from guerrilla groups and drug cartels, whose activity has increased during Petro’s four years in office.The country has faced a 60-year insurgency by communist-oriented groups. Despite the historic 2016 peace deal with the FARC (The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), breakaway factions and other groups such as the ELN (National Liberation Army Colombia) continue armed operations, heavily financed by drug trafficking, alongside right-wing militias and criminal organizations.15 View gallery Colombian soldiers on patrol in the west of the country. A decade-long record in murders, the number of kidnappings has tripled (Photo: REUTERS/Jair Coll)15 View gallery חייל צבא קולומביה סיור ב ג'מונד שבמערב המדינה לקראת בחירות לנשיאות (Photo: REUTERS/Jair Coll)Petro, elected in 2022 as Colombia’s first left-wing president, launched a policy called “Total Peace”, promising to end the conflict through negotiations with all armed groups. But the policy has largely failed: armed groups have grown stronger and cocaine production has surged to record levels. Colombia now accounts for two-thirds of global cocaine supply.Estimates suggest the number of fighters in these organizations has doubled over the past four years to around 25,000, with activity spreading across hundreds of municipalities. According to election monitoring groups, about 386 municipalities — roughly one-third of the country — are now under threat from armed groups.In recent years, insurgents and criminal networks have increasingly used drone-borne explosives. According to Colombia’s defense ministry, there were 333 drone attacks last year, up sharply from 61 the year before. Since the beginning of 2026, 107 such attacks have already been recorded, killing two soldiers.Violence has also surged in general. In the first three months of the year alone, 3,391 people were murdered, the highest figure in a decade. Kidnappings have tripled, and the election campaign is taking place amid a wave of violence.15 View gallery Supporter of leftist Cepeda disguised as "revolutionary" gunman at election rally. Sepada denied connection to FARC underground