Trump ally De la Espriella sworn in as Colombia's president
Right-wing politician Abelardo de la Espriella was inaugurated as Colombia's president on Friday, pledging closer ties with the US and an end to dialogue with armed groups. The ceremony was held in Cali rather than Bogota amid heightened security.
Abelardo de la Espriella, 48, was sworn in as Colombia's president on Friday, pledging to strengthen ties with the United States and confront armed groups tied to drug trafficking. The former lawyer narrowly won the June 21 runoff against Sen. Ivan Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, pulling the Andean nation to the right.
In his speech shortly after taking office, De la Espriella declared that the option of dialogue with armed groups was completely exhausted, an apparent rebuke of his predecessor's peace-focused approach. He vowed to restore order, authority and freedom, and has previously spoken of building large-scale prisons to hold captured rebels and drug traffickers.
Rather than the capital Bogota, the inauguration took place at a university in Cali, a southwestern city near key drug-trafficking routes that frequently sees violence between rival armed groups. Security was heightened for the event.
VIP attendees included Spain's King Felipe VI, acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and several Latin American leaders, including Argentina's Javier Milei, Ecuador's Daniel Noboa and Chile's Jose Antonio Kast. Outgoing President Petro skipped the ceremony and called for mass protests on Friday, alleging election fraud without offering evidence.
Who is De la Espriella
A former lawyer and businessman who has never held public office, De la Espriella financed his campaign through profits from his law firm and ventures in agri-food, real estate and fashion. He plans to build a military alliance with the US and Israel to fight rebel groups, including remnants of the former FARC guerrillas. He secured US President Donald Trump's backing after committing Colombia to a US-led coalition against drug trafficking. De la Espriella has also announced plans to restore diplomatic relations with Israel while cutting ties with Cuba and Nicaragua.
