Colombia: Trump ally De la Espriella takes office

Abelardo de la Espriella took the reins as Colombia's president on Friday, pledging to strengthen bonds with the United States and confront armed factions connected to drug trafficking. The 48-year-old ex-lawyer catapults the South American nation toward the right, succeeding outgoing President Gustavo Petro in a tight June 21 runoff.

In his inaugural address, De la Espriella reiterated his commitment to eradicating "narcoterrorism" in Colombia. "The path of dialogue has been exhausted," he declared, alluding to his predecessor's advocacy for peaceful resolution to the crisis. The hardline leader subsequently vowed to reinstate "order, authority, and freedom" to the country, declaring that there would be no tolerance for actions that threaten national stability.

De la Espriella opted to hold his inauguration at a university in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, situated near significant drug-trafficking routes and the Pacific coast, a hotspot for ongoing violence from rival factions. Among the distinguished attendees were King Felipe VI of Spain, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Latin American leaders such as Argentina's Javier Milei, Ecuador's Daniel Noboa, and Chile's Jose Antonio Kast.

Petro, the former president, stayed away from the event, denouncing the election as a sham and inciting mass protests, albeit lacking any substantiated proof. The young entrepreneur, who financed his campaign using profits from his law firm and various businesses in agri-food, real estate, and fashion industries, aims to forge a military pact with the U.S. and Israel to combat rebel groups, including remnants of the FARC guerrillas, who waged an armed conflict during the 1990s and 2000s.

De la Espriella secured the support of U.S. President Donald Trump by pledging allegiance to a U.S.-backed coalition to combat drug trafficking, known as the "Shield of the Americas." He has also expressed willingness to launch joint military ventures with Washington and even host U.S. troops on Colombian soil. The self-made millionaire has announced intentions to reestablish diplomatic ties with Israel while severing them with Cuba and Nicaragua.

De la Espriella's victory marks another endorsement for right-wing politics in Latin America, following electoral triumphs across the continent, spanning from Chile to Costa Rica.