Colombia has unveiled its first domestically produced combat rifle, marking a historic shift in its defense strategy as ties with Israel — once a key military ally — remain severed.

The rifles, manufactured by state-owned Indumil, are designed to replace the Israeli-made Galil that Colombia had relied on since the 1990s. Indumil’s plan is to produce 400,000 lighter and cheaper rifles over the next five years, gradually phasing them into the country’s armed forces. The weapons are 15–25% lighter than the Galil, though experts doubt whether Colombia can ramp up production at scale without major costs.

The move comes amid President Gustavo Petro’s escalating feud with Israel and the U.S. Petro cut ties with Israel in 2024 over the war in Gaza, accusing it of genocide, while supporting South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Last week, the U.S. revoked Petro’s visa after he appeared at an anti-Israel rally in New York, wearing a keffiyeh and calling on Colombians — and citizens of other nations — to enlist in an army to fight alongside Palestinians in Gaza. Petro even declared he would personally join if needed.

Washington condemned his remarks as “reckless and incendiary,” and Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio renounced her own U.S. visa in protest. Finance Minister Germán Ávila also announced he would stop using his visa in solidarity with Petro.

Meanwhile, Petro has also halted arms purchases from the U.S., after former President Trump removed Colombia from Washington’s list of anti-narcotics allies. Bogotá has since turned to Sweden for fighter jets and is now positioning its domestic arms industry as a symbol of sovereignty and independence.

Once a close partner of both Israel and the U.S., Colombia under Petro has recast itself as a fierce critic of Western military policy — betting that homegrown weapons and South-South alliances will fill the void.