Nauru Moves Embassy to Jerusalem in Landmark Diplomatic Step
The small Pacific island nation of Nauru opened its embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, joining a small group of countries taking the symbolic step of backing Israeli sovereignty over the contested city.
“We see opening an embassy here in Jerusalem not only as a strengthening of our ties with Israel, but also as a message to the world of where we stand,” said Nauru’s vice president and foreign minister, Lionel Aingimea.
Most countries have maintained their embassies in Tel Aviv, based on the position that Jerusalem’s final status should be determined as part of a broader resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Donald Trump broke from that longstanding consensus in 2018, during his first term, by relocating the US embassy to Jerusalem, home to Israel’s parliament, prime minister’s office, and most other major government institutions. Since that move, only a handful of small, US-aligned nations have followed suit, including Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay. Kosovo and Somaliland, both of which are not UN member states, have also opened what they consider embassies in Jerusalem.
At Monday’s inauguration ceremony, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Nauru as one of Israel’s greatest friends. He said additional countries are expected to follow Nauru’s lead soon, noting that Colombia is anticipated to open its own embassy in Jerusalem in early October. Bogota has not yet confirmed an official date, though Colombia’s newly elected hard-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella, announced plans for the move in July.
The Democratic Republic of Congo said last week that it, too, would relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Argentine President Javier Milei, a vocal supporter of Israel, has similarly pledged to move his country’s embassy to the city.
The status of Jerusalem remains one of the most contentious issues within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel occupied east Jerusalem and formally annexed it in 1967, a move that has not been recognized by the vast majority of the international community.
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