- Abelardo de la Espriella is sworn in as Colombia's president.
- The US pledges $1bn support to Colombia.
- In his maiden speech, de la Espriella promises an "all-out war" on what he calls "narco-terrorism".
- He vows a sharp break with his predecessor, promising a brutal crackdown on armed groups and the construction of mega-prisons, instead of peace talks.
The US has pledged $1 billion in assistance to Colombia, coinciding with the inauguration of Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump ally, who has declared an "all-out war" on narco-terrorism. This marks a significant shift from the policies of former president Gustavo Petro, who often clashed with the Trump administration.13
In a statement, the US State Department described the financial support as part of a "security package" aimed at achieving shared goals, including combating organized crime and illegal immigration. De la Espriella's inauguration in Cali symbolizes a decisive turn to the right in Colombian politics.
In his inaugural address, de la Espriella promised to crush armed insurgents and defend democracy "by reason or by force". He emphasized that "there will not be a single place in our territory where criminals can feel safe", indicating a shift from peace talks to a more aggressive stance against criminal organizations.
Additionally, de la Espriella has pledged to strengthen military alliances with the US and Israel, contrasting sharply with Petro's administration. He also announced Colombia's participation in the "Shield of the Americas" security partnership founded by Trump, further solidifying this new direction in US-Colombia relations.
“In his maiden speech, de la Espriella declared 'in the age of the Tiger' the state would be forceful, vowing 'there will not be a single place in our territory where criminals can feel safe.' He also promised a brutal crackdown and mega-prisons, breaking with his predecessor's peace talks.”
BBC
