The United States has pledged a $1bn security package to Colombia shortly after the inauguration of the country’s new right-wing populist president, Abelardo de la Espriella.
De la Espriella, a strong supporter of US President Donald Trump, used his first speech as president to promise an “all-out war” against drug cartels and organised crime. Closer US-Colombia security ties The US State Department said the $1bn package would help Colombia pursue shared objectives, particularly:
Fighting organised crime Tackling illegal immigration Strengthening security cooperation Expanding economic and trade relations De la Espriella also announced that Colombia would join Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” security partnership.
Trump had openly backed de la Espriella during the election, promising that his presidency would lead to a much stronger relationship between Washington and Bogotá. A major shift in Colombia’s security policy De la Espriella has pledged to abandon his predecessor Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” strategy, which focused heavily on negotiations with armed groups and incentives for farmers to stop growing coca.
The new president instead promised a much tougher approach, saying criminals would have nowhere in Colombia where they could feel safe.His policies have drawn comparisons with the security crackdowns pursued by other right-wing Latin American leaders, including Nayib Bukele in El Salvador and Daniel Noboa in Ecuador.
Critics of Petro’s approach argue that armed groups expanded during his administration, while fighting between rival groups contributed to significant displacement, particularly near the Colombia-Venezuela border. Colombia’s changing political direction De la Espriella’s victory is part of a broader rightward shift in Latin American politics, with Trump seeking closer relationships with governments that share his political outlook.
He has also promised stronger military cooperation with both the US and Israel, reversing Petro’s much more critical position toward Israel. The new president is a wealthy lawyer and businessman who describes himself as “El Tigre” (The Tiger). Before entering politics, he worked as a defence lawyer representing drug-trafficking paramilitaries—an unusual background given his current pledge to aggressively combat organised crime.
His inauguration was attended by senior figures including US Attorney General Todd Blanche and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
