August 8, 2026 | 10:05 AM
Colombia’s new President, Abelardo de la Espriella, has signaled a hardline shift, vowing to crush “narco-terrorists” and end peace negotiations with armed groups.Speaking to troops at the Pichincha Battalion in Cali on Friday, hours after his inauguration, the 48-year-old conservative said “the time for dialogue is over.
There will be no room for actions that threaten national stability,” de la Espriella told soldiers, giving a military salute that became his trademark during the campaign.He announced his first priority would be joining US President Donald Trump’s regional anti-cartel initiative, _Shield of the Americas_.
The US appeared to welcome the move. On Friday night, the State Department said the Trump administration would work with Congress to approve “$1 billion in assistance as part of a security package” for the new Colombian government.De la Espriella, a US-Colombian dual citizen and millionaire lawyer, campaigned on closer ties with Washington. He has proposed hosting US troops, bombing jungle cocaine labs, building “mega-prisons,” and shrinking the size of government.
Unconventional Inauguration Breaking with tradition, the swearing-in was held in Cali — Colombia’s salsa capital — instead of Congress in Bogotá. Security was tight, with 11,000 troops and an anti-drone system deployed after recent guerrilla attacks in the city.
Guests included FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, and Todd Blanche, acting US Attorney General who led the US delegation. Outgoing leftist President Gustavo Petro skipped the ceremony, instead bidding “farewell, freedom and life” as he left the presidential palace.Petro later called for nationwide protests over alleged election fraud. Hundreds demonstrated peacefully in Bogotá and Barranquilla.
A Rightward Turn De la Espriella’s razor-thin victory — by less than 1% — ended four years of Colombia’s first left-wing government. He now faces a divided Congress with no clear majority.Supporters expect a tough crackdown on crime.
“This government has a lot to prove. A lot was said on the campaign,” said Cali resident Marisol Peira, 46.Critics note that Petro’s peace talks failed because criminal gangs used ceasefires to expand drug and illegal mining operations.De la Espriella, nicknamed “The Tiger,” plans what he calls _“Plan Colombia II”_ — modeled after the US-backed 2000s program that weakened cartels but drew human rights complaints.
His agenda includes eradicating coca “by all means,” promoting fracking, and cutting taxes for the wealthy. He also seeks military cooperation with the US and Israel.“We need to back him so crime can reduce,” said contractor German Angulo, 63. “We need total change.”His win adds to a wave of right-wing victories across Latin America, from Chile to Costa Rica, driven largely by promises of security.
