De la Espriella Signals the End of Petro’s Total Peace With Extraditions
The President Abelardo De la Espriella announced the definitive dismantling of the Total Peace policy promoted by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, and confirmed the resumption of extraditions to the United States of five members of armed organizations who had been recognized as negotiators during the previous administration. The decision — known since the election campaign […]
President Abelardo De la Espriella formally ended Colombia's "Total Peace" policy by signing extradition agreements for five peace negotiators. This marks a significant shift in the new administration's security policy, signaling the end of the strategy that sought simultaneous negotiations with armed groups and criminal organizations.
The decision was made clear during a press conference in Bogota, where De la Espriella argued that the talks had instead provided legal benefits to illegal groups while allowing them to continue their criminal activities. He stressed that the new administration will prioritize security, the rule of law, and state authority, with a condition for those wishing to lay down their arms: demonstrating through verifiable actions their commitment to justice.
The move to extraditions symbolizes the end of Petro's Total Peace talks, which had been implemented since 2022 to address violence through negotiations with various armed actors. Critics, including the Ideas for Peace Foundation, had previously concluded that these talks yielded "more costs than gains" and did not achieve their main objectives, such as reducing violence and facilitating the transition of armed group members into legality.
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