Colombia’s new president signals energy policy shift, backs oil and gas

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has vowed to revive the country's oil and gas sector, according to the Daily Times. During his inauguration, he said Colombia would pursue an energy transition and strengthen the electricity system, with energy security being a cornerstone of his administration. He also pledged to restore state-owned energy company Ecopetrol.

De la Espriella's inauguration was marked by a car bomb explosion in southwestern Colombia, reported by Global News and the Associated Press. The army alleged that the attack, which injured two security guards, was carried out by two dissident groups of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. In his inaugural speech, de la Espriella outlined his security policy, warning illegal groups that they had two paths: submit to the rule of law or confront the security forces.

The US has pledged $1 billion in assistance to Colombia, as reported by KahawaTungu. The financial support is part of a "security package" to help de la Espriella achieve shared goals with the US, including fighting organised crime and illegal immigration. De la Espriella, an ally of former US President Donald Trump, was endorsed by Trump during the election.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Global News, KahawaTungu, Associated Press — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.