From ‘The Lion’ to ‘The Tiger“: Conservative Trump allies gain ground in Latin America

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella is set to become the latest conservative leader in a spate of Latin American countries governed by conservatives in the past few years. Conservatives have won seven major presidential elections in the region since Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025, primarily due to concerns over crime, immigration, and economic stagnation.

De la Espriella, nicknamed "The Tiger," will assume office in Colombia following his narrow victory in June's presidential election, where he defied progressive incumbent Iván Cepeda. The Trump-endorsed outsider has pledged to combat crime through a tough approach, including ending peace talks with rebel groups and constructing large-scale prisons similar to those in El Salvador. Trump endorsed de la Espriella, touting him as the candidate who can restore law and order in Colombia.

In Peru, Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of the late former president Alberto Fujimori, secured her position as the country's ninth leader in a decade. Fujimori's election victory in July, obtained by a margin of less than 50,000 votes, was fueled by her tough-on-crime platform. She aims to tackle extortion, drug trafficking, and build four new prisons, including a mega-prison like El Salvador's CECOT facility. She also intends to militarize Peru's borders to curb drug trafficking and deport illegal migrants.

Argentina has elected libertarian Javier Milei, dubbed "The Lion," to tackle the nation's persistent inflation issues. Milei, an economist and television commentator, defeated the ruling Peronist movement in the November 2023 election by advocating for reduced government spending. During his first year, Milei has stopped the Central Bank from printing money to finance the government deficit, reduced government spending by dismissing civil servants and halting infrastructure investments, and lowered subsidies for public utility bills.

While Milei's austerity policies have brought down inflation from 211% in 2023 to 32% in 2025, critics argue that his approach has diminished the living standards of many Argentines, including civil servants.