Colombia's new President Abelardo de la Espriella takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at the Universidad Santiago de Cali in Cali, Colombia, on August 7, 2026. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP)
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella took office Friday, vowing to wage war on drug-running guerrillas and usher in a new era of close ties with the United States.
The flamboyant former lawyer brings a lurch to the right for the Andean nation, vowing to bomb jungle cocaine labs, build “mega-prisons” and slash the size of the state.
De la Espriella and his Vice President Jose Manuel Restrepo cheered, embraced and performed their campaign’s characteristic military salute after taking their respective oaths.
After four years of diplomatic spats with the United States, President Donald Trump now has a keen ally in Bogota.
