US promises $1bn in security aid to Colombia as new rightwing president pledges drugs crackdown

Colombia's new right-wing President Abelardo De La Espriella has been sworn in. According to RTE News, he used his inaugural speech to pledge a vigorous fight against drug trafficking and austerity measures to restore confidence in the economy. De La Espriella, 48, won June's runoff election with promises to crack down on armed groups, shrink the state by as much as 40%, and revive the oil and gas sector.

The US state department announced plans to provide $1bn in security assistance to De La Espriella's government. As reported by The Guardian, De La Espriella is an ally of US President Donald Trump. He has also pledged to join Trump's regional anti-cartel alliance known as Shield of the Americas, as per Le Monde English.

De La Espriella has vowed to "relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism" and given members of criminal gangs and narco-terrorist groups two choices: submit to the rule of law or face the determined response of the Colombian state and its security forces. According to Associated Press, he also aims to revive the country's oil and gas sector, restore state-owned energy company Ecopetrol, and strengthen the electricity system.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Guardian, RTE News, Le Monde English, Associated Press, Japan Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — read the original for the full account.