The United States has committed $1 billion in aid to Colombia after the country’s new right‑wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella, was sworn in. The money is part of a security package that Washington says will help de la Espriella fight organised crime, narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration.
In his first speech, de la Espriella launched an “all‑out war” on what he calls “narco‑terrorism,” promising a forceful crackdown on the armed gangs that have plagued the country for decades. He took the oath of office not in Bogotá, the capital, but in the volatile city of Cali, a move the new president said was intended to show a hard stance on armed groups in the region.
The Trump‑endorsed leader has a controversial background, having represented drug‑trafficking paramilitaries, footballers and fraudsters before entering politics. He criticised the previous administration’s peace‑talk approach and pledged instead to build mega‑prisons and to strengthen the military alliance with the United States and Israel.
De la Espriella also announced that Colombia would join the US‑led “Shield of the Americas” security partnership, a move that Washington welcomed as part of its plan to “defeat the vicious narco‑terrorist and criminal organisations” that threaten the region.
The State Department said the shared goals included halting illegal immigration through closer coordination on border security and “expanding trade and deepening economic ties.” The aid package signals a new phase in US‑Colombia relations, focused on hard‑line security measures and rapid economic integration.
