A flamboyant US-backed lawyer who has never held public office narrowly won Colombia's presidential runoff on Sunday, swinging the country hard right with a promise to wage war against drug-running guerrilla groups. With almost all polling centers reporting, Abelardo de la Espriella won 49.7 percent of the vote versus left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda's 48.7 percent. Read moreAs It Happened: De la Espriella wins slim majority in Colombia's election The 47-year-old's victory is set to improve strained relations with Washington and extends a wave of rightist candidates who have swept to power across Latin America promising "iron fist" security policies. "We are beginning a new era!" de la Espriella, nicknamed “The Tiger", told supporters in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla from behind bullet-proof glass. "For those who have sown violence, terror, drug trafficking, and corruption all these years, their time is up!" he said. “Pack your bags and prepare to exercise the opposition,” he added. “Make no mistake, Mr. Cepeda. You already know how fiercely the tiger roars.” Read moreWho is Abelardo de la Espriella, the far‑right Trump fan who could lead Colombia? President Donald Trump and a host of right-wing leaders from across the Americas have clamoured to offer congratulations and support. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated de la Espriella late Sunday and said the Trump administration looked forward to working with Colombia's new leader. "The Trump Administration looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration to advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen our economic ties," Rubio wrote in an X post.