Colombia Turns to Domestic Weapons Production Following Israeli Arms Boycott
Colombia announced on Monday the production of its first domestically made combat rifle — a lighter, cheaper weapon intended to replace arms previously supplied by its former military ally, Israel, according to AFP.
Indumil, the state-owned weapons manufacturer, has produced Colombia’s first domestically manufactured combat rifle.
This rifle is designed primarily to replace the Galil — a weapon assembled in the country through the use of Israeli components since the 1990s.
This move came in response to President Gustavo Petro’s decision of cutting of ties with Israel in 2024 over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
Petro also suspended arms purchases from the United States, after President Donald Trump removed Colombia from his list of allies in the fight against drugs.
Currently, Colombia plans to manufacture 400,000 lighter and cheaper rifles in five years. Moreover, the government will gradually replace current weapons in the armed forces.
Experts have expressed doubts over Colombia’s ability to reach full production capacity without incurring significant costs.
On Friday, US said it would revoke Petro’s visa after he took to New York’s streets to join a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
In response, Petro dismissed the US decision to revoke his visa and accused Washington of violating international law.
“I no longer have a visa to travel to the United States. I don’t care and I don’t need a visa … because I’m not only a Colombian citizen but a European citizen, and I truly consider myself a free person in the world,” Petro said on social media.
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