Colombian officials said Monday the country has produced its first domestically made combat rifle, part of an effort to replace weapons once supplied by its former military ally Israel.

The state-owned weapons manufacturer Indumil designed the firearm to replace the Israeli Galil ACE, which had been assembled in Colombia from imported parts since the 1990s.

El ministro @PedroSanchezCol presentó de manera oficial nuestro nuevo fusil Indumil, una herramienta que es fruto de la ingeniería colombiana y que representará un avance importante en el desarrollo tecnológico de nuestra industria que está liderando este Gobierno.

De acuerdo… pic.twitter.com/nJt2viEuLL

— Mindefensa (@mindefensa) September 25, 2025

The Ministry of National Defense of Colombia said the new rifle, made of steel and polymer, is 5% lighter and about 25% more economical than the Galil, and will allow the country “to have greater autonomy” and “be more competitive.”

Indumil manager and retired Colonel Javier Carmago told AFP the company plans to produce 400,000 rifles over the next five years to gradually replace those currently used by Colombia’s armed forces.

The shift follows President Gustavo Petro’s decision to cut ties with Israel in 2024 over its war in Gaza. His government has since halted arms purchases from the United States, canceled imports of Israeli Kfir fighter jets, and signed a deal with Sweden for SAAB-39 Gripen aircraft.

Last week, the United States revoked Petro’s visa after he joined a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City, where he urged American soldiers to disobey President Donald Trump’s orders.

The U.S. State Department announced on social media that Petro’s visa was being revoked “due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”

Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence.

We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.

— Department of State (@StateDept) September 27, 2025