Colombia: Trump ally De la Espriella takes office
Conservative Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia's president, promising to crack down on armed drug gangs.
Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia's president on Friday, pledging to strengthen relations with the United States and combat drug-related armed groups. The 48-year-old ex-lawyer propelled the Andean nation to the right, winning a narrow June 21 runoff against outgoing President Gustavo Petro's ally, Sen. Ivan Cepeda.
In his inaugural address, De la Espriella reiterated his commitment to eradicate "narcoterrorism" and restore order, authority, and freedom to the country. He vowed to eliminate any attempts to destabilize the nation, and hinted at opening large prisons to house captured rebels and drug offenders.
The inauguration ceremony took place at a university in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, situated near major drug-trafficking routes and the Pacific coast, a frequent site of violence from rival factions. VIP attendees included 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, did not attend the ceremony and denounced the election as fraudulent, without presenting any evidence.
De la Espriella, a self-styled "El Tigre" (The Tiger), plans to establish a military alliance with the U.S. and Israel to reinforce his anti-rebel campaign. He secured Trump's support after pledging allegiance to a U.S.-backed coalition to fight drug trafficking, known as the "Shield of the Americas." Additionally, De la Espriella expressed interest in resuming diplomatic ties with Israel and severing them with Cuba and Nicaragua.
The election of De la Espriella signifies a shift towards right-wing politics in Latin America, following similar victories in Chile and Costa Rica, coupled with a firm stance on security matters.
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