diff --git a/mcp_server_snowflake/query_manager/tools.py b/mcp_server_snowflake/query_manager/tools.py
index ee5872e..c7e18a7 100644
--- a/mcp_server_snowflake/query_manager/tools.py
+++ b/mcp_server_snowflake/query_manager/tools.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def get_statement_type(sql_string):
     """
     try:
         # Parse the SQL statement. The root of the AST is the statement type.
-        expression_tree = sqlglot.parse_one(sql_string)
+        expression_tree = sqlglot.parse_one(sql_string, dialect="snowflake")
 
         # The expression type is the class of the root node.
         statement_type = type(expression_tree).__name__
diff --git a/mcp_server_snowflake/tests/test_query_manager_tools.py b/mcp_server_snowflake/tests/test_query_manager_tools.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ecc2b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mcp_server_snowflake/tests/test_query_manager_tools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+# Copyright 2025 Snowflake Inc.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import pytest
+
+from mcp_server_snowflake.query_manager.tools import get_statement_type, validate_sql_type
+
+
+class TestGetStatementType:
+    def test_simple_select(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("SELECT 1") == "Select"
+
+    def test_insert(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("INSERT INTO t VALUES (1)") == "Insert"
+
+    def test_update(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("UPDATE t SET col = 1") == "Update"
+
+    def test_delete(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("DELETE FROM t WHERE id = 1") == "Delete"
+
+    def test_create_table(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("CREATE TABLE t (id INT)") == "Create"
+
+    def test_drop_table(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("DROP TABLE t") == "Drop"
+
+    def test_unparseable_returns_unknown(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("NOT VALID SQL !!!") == "Unknown"
+
+    def test_try_parse_json_colon_path_with_cast(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("SELECT TRY_PARSE_JSON(col):name::string FROM t") == "Select"
+
+    def test_parse_json_colon_path_with_cast(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("SELECT PARSE_JSON(col):name::string FROM t") == "Select"
+
+    def test_column_colon_path_with_cast(self):
+        assert get_statement_type("SELECT v:city::string FROM t") == "Select"
+
+
+class TestValidateSqlType:
+    def test_select_allowed(self):
+        allow = ["select"]
+        deny: list[str] = []
+        stmt_type, valid = validate_sql_type("SELECT 1", allow, deny)
+        assert stmt_type == "Select"
+        assert valid is True
+
+    def test_select_disallowed(self):
+        allow: list[str] = []
+        deny = ["select"]
+        stmt_type, valid = validate_sql_type("SELECT 1", allow, deny)
+        assert stmt_type == "Select"
+        assert valid is False
+
+    def test_all_escape_hatch(self):
+        _, valid = validate_sql_type("DROP TABLE t", ["all"], [])
+        assert valid is True
+
+    def test_unknown_blocked_by_default(self):
+        """Unparseable SQL must be blocked when unknown is not in allow list."""
+        _, valid = validate_sql_type("NOT VALID SQL !!!", ["select"], [])
+        assert valid is False
+
+    def test_unknown_allowed_when_configured(self):
+        _, valid = validate_sql_type("NOT VALID SQL !!!", ["select", "unknown"], [])
+        assert valid is True
+
+    def test_empty_lists_deny_all(self):
+        _, valid = validate_sql_type("SELECT 1", [], [])
+        assert valid is False
+
+    def test_try_parse_json_colon_path_is_allowed_as_select(self):
+        sql = "SELECT TRY_PARSE_JSON(col):name::string FROM t"
+        stmt_type, valid = validate_sql_type(sql, ["select"], [])
+        assert stmt_type == "Select", (
+            f"Expected 'Select' but got '{stmt_type}' — "
+            "dialect='snowflake' is likely missing from sqlglot.parse_one()"
+        )
+        assert valid is True
+
+    def test_column_colon_path_is_allowed_as_select(self):
+        sql = "SELECT v:city::string FROM locations"
+        stmt_type, valid = validate_sql_type(sql, ["select"], [])
+        assert stmt_type == "Select", (
+            f"Expected 'Select' but got '{stmt_type}' — "
+            "dialect='snowflake' is likely missing from sqlglot.parse_one()"
+        )
+        assert valid is True