Skip to main content

Main navigation

  • AJC Home
  • Who We Are
    • About AJC
    • Leadership
    • Our Impact
    • Global Offices
    • U.S. Regional Offices
    • Project Interchange
    • Alexander Young Leadership Department
    • Careers
    • Archives and History
  • Issues
    • Israel
    • Antisemitism
    • Radicalism & Extremism
    • BDS
    • Interreligious
    • Human Rights
    • Policy Resources
  • Take Action
    • Action Alerts / Petitions
    • AJC's Call to Action Against Antisemitism
    • #TranslateHate
    • The State of Antisemitism in America Report
    • Stand with Ukraine
    • #JewishandProud
    • Disrupt Antisemitism
    • Mayors United Against Antisemitism
    • Advocacy Anywhere
  • Global Forum
  • News and Resources
    • Global Voice
    • Antisemitism Resources
    • Israel Resources
    • Iran Resources
  • Support Our Work
    • Donate
    • Donor Recognition Societies
      • National Leadership Council
      • Marshall Society
      • AJC Visionaries
        • Create Your Legacy
    • Planned Giving
  • Relevance
  • Date
  • Title

Secondary navigation

  • Languages
    • English
    • Español
    • Français
    • Deutsch
  • Global Offices
  • Media
  • Podcasts

Header Follow Links

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Donate

Strengthening U.S.-Iberoamerican-Israel Ties

Promoting cooperation among the U.S., Israel, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal

Through regular diplomatic encounters in Latin America, Spain, Portugal, Washington, D.C., and at the UN in New York, AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA) works to secure fair treatment for Israel in the international community. Our diplomatic efforts are bolstered by AJC Project Interchange trips, which have brought hundreds of U.S. Latino and Latin American opinion leaders to Israel, where they build crucial personal relationships with the Jewish state.

Photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting with a delegation of Brazilian parliamentarians
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with a delegation of Brazilian parliamentarians during an AJC Project Interchange seminar.

Governments and Diplomatic Corps

BILLA engages with government officials and diplomats from Spain, Portugal, and the countries of Latin America to strengthen their relationships with Israel. Some of these nations have strong ties to the Jewish state, including warm diplomatic relations, robust bilateral trade, and frequent cultural and civic exchanges. Some have relationships with Israel that are still developing, while others have no contact with Israel at all. 

Historically, Latin America played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Jewish state, and most countries in the region have significant and growing bilateral ties with Israel. Nevertheless, they continue to cast anti-Israel votes at multilateral organizations such as the UN. AJC’s steadfast engagement aims to change this behavior by demonstrating that it runs counter to the foreign policy principles and self-interest of these countries.

Civil Society

BILLA cultivates strong relationships with Latino communities and leaders in the U.S. that foster support for Israel. Through AJC’s Latino-Jewish Leadership Council (LJLC), consisting of a group of prominent U.S. Jewish and Latino leaders, we advance issues of common concern, such as immigration reform, combating discrimination and bigotry, and foreign policy initiatives that benefit the U.S., Latin America, and Israel.

  • Latin America
    • Latino-Jewish Cooperation
    • Strengthening Bonds with Israel
    • Immigration Reform
    • Jewish Community Partnerships

Share This

Back to Top

AJC News and Analysis From this Office

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
5 Things to Know about Brazil's Presidential Election
graphic displaying AJC logo
AJC, Uruguay Jewish Community Sign Association Accord
graphic displaying AJC logo
American Jewish Committee, OAS Publish Handbook for Combating Antisemitism
AMIA rally
Antisemitism in Latin America: The Lasting Impact of the AMIA Attack
graphic displaying AJC logo
Interview with AJC CEO David Harris: La Palabra Israelita (Chile)
AJC - American Jewish Committee
AJC Hails Brazilian Jewish Leader’s Appointment As First OAS Commissioner to Combat Antisemitism
graphic displaying AJC logo
AJC Supporting IsraAID Relief Operation in Haiti
Graphic displaying AJC Virtual Global Forum Logo 2021
OAS Secretary-General Almagro Announces Creation of New Post to Combat Antisemitism in Latin America
More AJC News and Analysis

Sign Up to Stay Informed

Stay Connected

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Donate

AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world.

© Copyright 2023 AJC

Footer menu

  • Global Voice
  • Who We Are
    • Leadership
    • Global Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Alexander Young Leadership Department
    • Archives and History
    • Careers
  • Issues
    • Israel
    • BDS
    • Antisemitism
    • Radicalism & Extremism
    • Interreligious
    • Human Rights
  • Take Action
  • Global Forum
  • Support Our Work
    • Donate
    • Donor Recognition Societies
    • Planned Giving
  • Legal Information
    • Administrative Policies
    • Form 990
    • Impact and Financial Reports
  • Privacy Policy
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
  • Global Offices
    • AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding
    • AJC Africa Institute
    • AJC Asia Pacific Institute
    • AJC Berlin Lawrence and Lee Ramer Institute for German-Jewish Relations
    • AJC Paris
    • Shapiro Silverberg AJC Central Europe (Warsaw)
    • AJC Transatlantic Institute (Brussels)
    • Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs
    • AJC Jerusalem
  • Foreign Language Websites
    • AJC Berlin (German)
    • AJC Español (Spanish)
    • AJC Paris (French)