Foreign ministers from 19 nations issued a joint statement in Amman on 16 October 2026 to condemn the inauguration of a Colombian embassy in Jerusalem. The group of countries, which includes Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Somalia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Egypt, and Yemen, announced the formal opposition during their meeting. The statement marks a direct diplomatic challenge to the decision by Colombia to establish its mission in the city. This collective action represents a significant diplomatic response to the specific foreign policy decision made by the Colombian government regarding its presence in Jerusalem.
Coalition of Nineteen Nations
Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Somalia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Egypt, and Yemen comprise the coalition issuing the formal condemnation. These 19 nations represent a unified stance against the recent diplomatic move by Colombia. Their joint communique outlines a specific legal argument regarding the status of the city where the embassy is located. By convening in Amman, the foreign ministers sought to consolidate their diplomatic position and present a unified message to the international community regarding the embassy's inauguration.
United Nations Security Council Resolutions 476 and 478, both adopted in 1980, serve as the primary grounds for the collective rejection of the embassy inauguration. The statement asserts that these resolutions prohibit member states from taking actions that alter the character and status of Jerusalem. By invoking these specific mandates, the foreign ministers argue that the establishment of the Colombian mission contravenes established international legal frameworks. These resolutions, which date back to 1980, are cited by the coalition as the definitive basis for rejecting any attempts by foreign states to unilaterally change the status of the city.
The ministers further articulated their position by defining Jerusalem as an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967. This classification serves as the foundation for their opposition to any foreign diplomatic presence in the city that does not align with their interpretation of international law. The group maintains that the status of the city remains subject to final negotiations and that unilateral diplomatic recognition of Jerusalem as a capital undermines that process. By framing the city as part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, the 19 foreign ministers emphasized that the presence of the Colombian embassy is a matter of profound concern for their respective governments. The joint statement serves as a formal record of their objection, noting the legal and geopolitical arguments they believe are central to the status of Jerusalem. The ministers concluded their meeting in Amman by reaffirming their commitment to the principles outlined in their joint communique, specifically focusing on the implications of the Colombian mission's establishment.