Colombia's new president sworn in, pledges military crackdown on armed groups

Abelardo de la Espriella, a 48-year-old lawyer and businessman, was sworn in as Colombia's president on August 7, 2026, in Cali, a city in the country's volatile southwest. The inauguration marked the first presidential ceremony in Colombia's modern history held outside the capital, Bogotá—a symbolic choice intended to signal de la Espriella's hardline approach to security and armed groups operating in the region.

De la Espriella, who represents the far-right political movement "Defenders of the Homeland," won the June 21 runoff election with 49.6% of the vote, narrowly defeating left-wing Senator Iván Cepeda. As a political outsider with no prior elected office experience, he self-financed his campaign through his fortune as a lawyer and businessman. Known by his nickname "El Tigre" (The Tiger), he campaigned on promises to crack down on armed groups, cut government spending by up to 40%, and revive Colombia's oil and gas sector.

In his inaugural address at the Pichincha Battalion military base, de la Espriella pledged to "relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism" and declared that "the option of dialogue is completely exhausted," signaling an end to his predecessor Gustavo Petro's peace negotiation strategy. He vowed to eradicate illegal coca crops using aerial herbicides and to construct mega-prisons. De la Espriella holds dual U.S. and Colombian citizenship and received endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, who called him a "smart, strong, and tough leader."

The Trump administration announced $1 billion in security assistance to support de la Espriella's anti-narcotics and security policies. The new president also committed Colombia to joining the "Shield of the Americas," a U.S.-backed regional coalition against drug trafficking that emerged from a Trump summit in March. Additionally, de la Espriella pledged to restore diplomatic relations with Israel and sever ties with Cuba and Nicaragua, which he called "tyrannies."

The inauguration was attended by approximately a dozen international leaders, including Spain's King Felipe VI, Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Chilean President José Antonio Kast. A U.S. delegation led by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attended on behalf of the Trump administration. Over 11,000 troops were deployed in Cali to provide security, and drones were banned during the ceremony.

De la Espriella's election represents the latest conservative victory in Latin America, where right-wing candidates have won seven major presidential races in recent years amid voter concerns over crime, immigration, and economic growth. His presidency marks a sharp ideological reversal from Petro's four-year left-wing administration, which had pursued peace negotiations with armed groups and maintained strained relations with the United States. Petro initially contested the election results, alleging vote manipulation, though international observers and Colombia's electoral authorities dismissed the claims.