Colombia’s President Vows Crackdown On Armed Groups, Drug Cartels

Colombia’s newly inaugurated President, Abelardo de la Espriella, has vowed to restore order and launch an uncompromising campaign against the country’s armed groups and drug cartels.

De la Espriella, a 48-year-old millionaire and dual Colombian-American citizen, made the pledge on Friday in his first address as president, delivered to hundreds of soldiers at a military garrison in the southwestern city of Cali.

The inauguration marked a sharp shift to the right for Colombia after four years under its first-ever leftist president, Gustavo Petro.

Addressing the troops, De la Espriella promised to “relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism”, declaring that “the option of dialogue is completely exhausted.”

“There will be no room for maneuvers that undermine the stability of the nation,” he told the soldiers.

His comments were a direct reference to the previous administration’s attempts to negotiate peace with Colombia’s numerous guerrilla and criminal groups, efforts that critics say allowed armed organisations to expand their influence and illicit activities.

De la Espriella said one of his immediate priorities would be to join US President Donald Trump’s regional anti-cartel initiative, known as Shield of the Americas.

The move is expected to strengthen security cooperation between Bogota and Washington, with the US administration indicating its willingness to support the new Colombian government.

The US State Department said late Friday that the Trump administration intended to work with Congress to announce “$1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support” De la Espriella’s government.

The new president has also proposed allowing US troops to operate from Colombian territory, bombing cocaine laboratories hidden in the jungle, constructing “mega-prisons” and reducing the size of government.

De la Espriella broke with presidential tradition by holding his inauguration in Cali, the country’s salsa capital, rather than at Congress in the capital, Bogota.

Among those who attended the ceremony was FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has faced criticism over a now-shelved proposal to open the World Cup and other competitions to private investment.

Other prominent right-wing figures were also present, including Argentine President Javier Milei and Todd Blanche, Trump’s acting attorney general, who led the US delegation.

Petro did not attend the ceremony.

Earlier, the former president departed the presidential residence in Bogota, saying goodbye to supporters with the words, “farewell, freedom and life.”

Cali, which has experienced several guerrilla attacks in recent years, was placed under heavy security during the inauguration.

About 11,000 troops were deployed across the city, alongside an anti-drone system, as authorities sought to prevent attacks during the ceremony.

De la Espriella won the presidency by less than one percentage point, giving him a narrow mandate and a difficult political challenge ahead.

He also faces a divided Congress, where his administration does not command a majority.

His supporters expect him to take a hard line against crime and armed groups.

“This government has a lot to prove. A lot was said during the campaign,” said 46-year-old Marisol Peira, a resident of Cali.

Petro’s efforts to negotiate peace with Colombia’s armed groups largely failed, according to critics. Experts have argued that some of the groups, which were once driven by ideological objectives but have increasingly focused on cocaine trafficking and other illegal businesses, used government ceasefires to strengthen their operations.

Petro, who has alleged electoral fraud without providing evidence, called for mass demonstrations in major cities on Friday. Hundreds of protesters peacefully took to the streets in Bogota and Barranquilla.

De la Espriella’s victory adds Colombia to a growing list of Latin American countries where right-wing candidates have gained ground by campaigning on promises to tackle crime and insecurity.

The new president has vowed to eliminate coca cultivation, the main raw material for cocaine production, “by all means”.

He also supports fracking, despite its environmental concerns, and plans to reduce taxes on wealthy Colombians.

Calling himself “The Tiger,” De la Espriella has proposed establishing a military alliance with the United States and Israel as part of his campaign against guerrillas and drug-trafficking organisations.

His proposed security strategy, dubbed “Plan Colombia II,” takes its name from the original US-backed Plan Colombia launched in the 2000s to combat drug cartels and leftist armed groups.

While the original programme weakened some of Colombia’s most powerful armed organisations, it also faced allegations of serious human rights abuses.

For some Colombians, however, the new president’s tough approach represents a chance to reverse years of worsening insecurity.

“We have to support him so there won’t be so much crime,” said German Angulo, a 63-year-old contractor. “We need a complete change.”