{
  "id": 19400440,
  "title": "Colombian President Appears Armed and Wearing a Camouflage Military Uniform",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/colombian-president-appears-armed-and-wearing-a-camouflage-military",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T21:12:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/11/10/colombian-president-appears-armed-and-wearing-a-camouflage-military-uniform/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella recently made headlines for his decision to wear a camouflage military uniform, sparking curiosity among his fellow citizens. Just weeks ago, he made a notable appearance with a pistol strapped to his waist during security patrols in Santa Marta, and has since been actively participating in police operations armed with a Glock 19 Gen5.\n\nThis latest display of military symbols comes after his presidential campaign, where he adopted the military salute and the phrase \"Stand Firm for the Homeland.\" De la Espriella has consistently shown his support for members of the Armed Forces. On Monday, November 9, in Cucuta, the capital of Norte de Santander, he appeared in a camouflage uniform while receiving the results of an airstrike against Front 33 of the FARC dissident groups, which resulted in four deaths and six captives.\n\nThe president's leading role in the operation was clearly demonstrated, as he not only authorized the airstrike but also presented those captured. One of the detainees, Jorge Luis Galvis Rodriguez, an alleged leader of the criminal structure, was questioned by De la Espriella regarding the bomb he had signed before its use by the Military Forces. The president compared the detainee's behavior to that of the organization's members who held others hostage, emphasizing his firm stance against such threats.\n\nThis marks the first time since 1957 that a Colombian president has appeared in a military uniform, with the previous instances belonging to military figures like Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera, and Jose Maria Melo. The president's appearance in this attire highlights his strong support for the Armed Forces and his determination to combat those who seek to subjugate Colombians through weapons and terror.",
  "summary": "Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella continues to surprise his fellow citizens. First, he attracted considerable attention when he appeared with a pistol strapped to his waist on Sept. 22, during security tours and patrols in Santa Marta. Since then, he has actively participated in these types of police operations, armed with a Glock 19 […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}