Colombia’s new hardline president, Abelardo de la Espriella, barely had time to settle into office before the United States pledged a formidable £740m. This swift financial injection signals a sharp realignment in Washington’s regional allegiances.
Mr de la Espriella, a right-wing populist and admirer of Donald Trump, echoed many of the former US president’s policies during his campaign. He used his maiden speech to promise an “all-out war” on drug cartels.
The US State Department confirmed this “security package” would help achieve “our shared goals”. These include fighting organised crime and curbing illegal immigration, areas where Mr Trump had repeatedly criticised Mr de la Espriella’s left-wing predecessor. Donald Trump had previously offered his full backing to the new president, predicting a “much better relationship” with Colombia. Before Mr de la Espriella was elected in June, Mr Trump stated he had the “total support and strength of the United States behind him”.
The self-styled “maverick outsider” has vowed to combat crime with an “iron fist”. In a fiery first official speech, addressing troops at a military base, Mr de la Espriella pledged to crush armed insurgents. He also vowed to defend democracy “by reason or by force”.
He declared that in “the age of the Tiger”—his chosen nickname—the state would be decisive. “There will not be a single place in our territory where criminals can feel safe,” he asserted.
This aggressive stance draws comparisons to similar crackdowns by right-wing populists Nayib Bukele in El Salvador and Daniel Noboa in Ecuador. It starkly contrasts with his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who pursued a “total peace” strategy.
Mr Petro’s approach prioritised negotiation and incentivising farmers away from coca cultivation. Critics, however, say this method failed. They point to expanded armed groups and a brutal conflict along the Colombia-Venezuela border that displaced tens of thousands last year.
Donald Trump often blamed Mr Petro’s policies for the flow of drugs and illegal migrants into the US.
