The new President of Colombia, Abelardo De La Espriella, officially assumed office on Friday, pledging to end peace talks with armed rebels and launch a war on drug traffickers, in addition to initiating a new era of close relations with the United States.
اضافة اعلان
The wealthy lawyer, known for his loud style, is expected to bring about a sharp shift to the right in the Andean nation, having vowed to bomb cocaine manufacturing laboratories in the jungle, build mega-prisons, and significantly shrink the size of the state.
De La Espriella embraced his Vice President, José Manuel Restrepo, after taking the constitutional oath, and the two performed the military salute they became famous for during their electoral campaign.
De La Espriella confirmed his determination to restore "order, authority, and freedom," stating: "There will be no room for maneuvers that undermine the stability of the homeland," according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The 48-year-old De La Espriella, who was elected on June 21, holds American citizenship and is considered an ally of President Donald Trump.
In a departure from tradition, his inauguration ceremony was held in the southwestern city of Cali, known as the country's salsa capital, instead of the official Capitol building in the capital, Bogotá.
De La Espriella chose this city as it recently witnessed a series of attacks claimed by rebel groups and lies near areas controlled by armed groups responsible for the worst wave of violence in a decade in the country.
Strict Security Measures
De La Espriella, nicknamed "El Tigre" (The Tiger), promised to end peace talks through which outgoing President Gustavo Petro had tried in vain to negotiate the disarmament of all groups involved in drug trafficking, noting that Colombia is the world's primary producer of cocaine.
Strict security measures were enforced in Cali for the inauguration, involving 11,000 military personnel and the deployment of an anti-drone defense system to protect guests, led by right-wing leaders from Latin American countries.
Among the prominent figures attending the inauguration ceremony were Argentine President Javier Milei, US Attorney General Todd Blanche—who headed the US delegation—and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.
Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), was also present. Infantino has faced sharp criticism since his plan stalled to open the door for private sector investors to invest in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
Outgoing President Gustavo Petro refrained from participating and called on his supporters to organize demonstrations in major Colombian cities after losing the election in June by a narrow margin.
The outgoing government warned on Wednesday of potential "acts of terrorism" on the day of the inauguration.
De La Espriella, a newcomer to politics, gained broad support during his campaign thanks to his dazzling campaign rallies and speeches delivered from behind bulletproof glass, concluding with a military salute honoring security forces.
"Collateral Damage"
De La Espriella's arrival to power reinforces the rising right-wing trend across Latin American nations engaged in a Trump-led war on drugs.
The US President supported the Colombian businessman, assuring him that Bogotá's relations with Washington would become "like never before," following the tensions witnessed during Petro's tenure.
In the early 2000s, Bogotá and Washington established close military cooperation that bolstered the armed offensive against rebel groups such as the FARC, which eventually signed a peace agreement in 2016.
De La Espriella promised to intensify bombings on rebel camps with support from Israel and the United States, and to construct massive prisons modeled after those in El Salvador to combat crime.
However, the capabilities of his armed forces remain "limited" in terms of manpower and equipment, according to observations by Renata Segura of the International Crisis Group.
The expert expressed concern over potential "collateral damage" affecting civilians if heavy artillery is deployed against armed groups that are "deeply rooted" in their regions.
The number of personnel enrolled in illegal organizations stands at approximately 25,000, according to a report issued by the Ideas for Peace Foundation based on official figures for 2025.
(Agencies)
