Las claves del país que le deja Petro a De la Espriella en siete gráficos

Abelardo de la Espriella assumes the presidency of Colombia, a country that has notably changed in recent years, with both progress and setbacks. The once-total peace policy, aimed at negotiating simultaneously with all armed groups, now poses a concerning scenario of violence. Despite President Gustavo Petro's repeated defense that no "violence chaos" exists in his government, many of these organizations have strengthened.

The Gulf Clan, the largest narcotrafficking gang with over 10,000 members, designated as a foreign terrorist group by the United States, has tried to negotiate with the government in Qatar.

The total peace concept contributes to the 29,000 members of illegal armed groups expected in July 2026, according to the Public Force, which means this figure doubled since 2022. De la Espriella proposed a strict approach, aerial bombardments, an offensive supported by the United States and Israel, forced eradication of coca crops, strengthening the Public Force, and tightening the penal system.

He inherits a country with at least 14 active zones of dispute between illegal actors and has decided to keep an army general, retired Jorge Eduardo Mora, as the Minister of Defense. Coca crops, the raw material for cocaine, remain at record levels with 261,000 hectares planted by the end of 2024, according to the latest UN Integrated Monitoring Information System (Simci) report.

However, President Petro questioned the report's accuracy and delayed the publication of the 2025 data, citing potential cocaine production of 3,001 tons in 2024. The president has insisted on changing the global anti-narcotics paradigm, without significant advances, and the increase in crops has caused harsh reactions in the United States.

Donald Trump not only demoted the country for the first time in three decades but also accused Petro of being a "narcotrafficker" without evidence. In contrast, De la Espriella has announced Colombia's participation in the Americas Shield, an alliance with politically similar leaders focused on combating drug trafficking, advocating for a forced eradication of coca crops, opposed to voluntary substitution, aiming for 330,000 hectares.