Latin America is undergoing profound political changes. Several countries that for decades were governed by radical left-wing governments are now shifting to the right – a trend that, in most cases, translates into closer ties with both the United States and Israel.
It is impossible to begin this analysis without addressing Venezuela. For years, the country spearheaded the most extreme anti-American and anti-Israel agenda in the region, aligning itself closely with Cuba, China, Russia, and Iran.
While it is still difficult to predict how the current dramatic developments will unfold, all signs point to a democratic transition. Opposition leaders – who were prevented from assuming office after winning the most recent presidential elections – appear finally poised to play a key role in shaping Venezuela’s future democratic path.
Although unilateral interventions are never ideal, U.S. actions have effectively ended the 26-year rule of a regime marked by extensive human-rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, systemic corruption, and economic collapse that forced more than eight million Venezuelans to flee their homeland. Under Maduro, Venezuela also became a hub for transnational crime and Iranian-sponsored terrorism, threatening the security of the entire hemisphere.
Bolivia, long considered a loyal ally of Venezuela, recently held presidential elections. On October 19, Rodrigo Paz of the Christian Democratic Party won the runoff and pledged to rebuild relations with both Washington and Jerusalem. A first concrete step followed on December 9, when Bolivia officially restored diplomatic relations with Israel, which had been severed in October 2023 in protest over the Gaza war.
Though Bolivia is a relatively small country with a modest economy, its political significance is substantial, having long been one of the most vocally anti-American and anti-Israel governments in the region.
Chile also experienced a major political shift. On December 14, José Antonio Kast was elected president with nearly 58% of the vote. Kast has expressed a desire to strengthen international partnerships, including with Israel, as part of a broader realignment of Chilean foreign policy. Chile, however, remains a particularly complex case due to the size and political activism of its Palestinian community – the largest outside the Middle East – whose younger generations have grown increasingly radicalized.
In Honduras, presidential elections were held on November 30, 2025, but it took nearly a month for a definitive result owing to a razor-thin vote count and a prolonged, controversial process. On December 24, the National Electoral Council declared Nasry “Tito” Asfura, the candidate of the conservative National Party, the country’s next president, winning approximately 40.3% of the vote against his nearest rival, Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party with about 39.5%.
Asfura’s victory represents a significant shift from the outgoing left-leaning administration of Xiomara Castro and signals an alignment with U.S. strategic priorities. Asfura’s National Party is also friendly with Israel, and Israeli officials have expressed their willingness to deepen bilateral ties with Honduras under his leadership.
Costa Rica marks another historic turning point. The country has just signed a Free Trade Agreement with Israel, inaugurating a new era in bilateral relations. As part of this process, Costa Rica will open a Trade and Innovation Office in Jerusalem in the first quarter of 2026. I had the privilege of being closely involved in this process through my work as Executive Director of ILAN (Israel Innovation Network), working closely with Costa Rican authorities. This milestone also helps correct the grave mistake made in 2006, when former president Óscar Arias relocated Costa Rica’s embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.
Looking ahead, Colombia will hold presidential elections on May 31, 2026, with a possible runoff in June. While it is still early to predict the outcome, the political momentum created by Venezuela’s transformation may significantly influence Colombian voters.
Taken together, these developments point to a promising regional realignment. Today, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica are governed by administrations that are firmly pro-American and pro-Israel. Panama, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic also maintain generally friendly positions.
Venezuela is likely to join this group in the near future, and if Colombia follows the same course, Latin America would, for the first time in many years, be led by a clear majority of governments realigning with Western democratic values, reshaping the strategic map of the Western Hemisphere.
Adriana Camisar is an Argentine-born attorney with a master’s degree in international law and diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. She has served as B’nai B’rith International’s Special Advisor on Latin American and United Nations Affairs since 2008 and is the Deputy Director of AJIRI, the American Jewish International Relations Institute. Since 2024, she has also been the Executive Director of ILAN – Israel Innovation Network.
