Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsWorld‘We are beginning a new era’: Trump ally Abelardo de la Espriella sworn in as Colombia presidentThe former lawyer brings an abrupt turn to the right for the Andean nation, vowing to bomb jungle cocaine labs, build ‘mega-prisons’ and slash the size of the stateAuthor of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Colombia's new President Abelardo de la Espriella delivers a speech at the Pichincha Battalion after being sworn in, in Cali, Colombia, on Aug. 7, 2026. Photo by Jaime SALDARRIAGA/AFP via Getty ImagesCALI, Colombia — 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.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe flamboyant former lawyer brings an abrupt 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.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe 48-year-old president, who holds dual U.S. and Colombian citizenship, has offered to launch joint military operations and even host U.S. troops on Colombian soil.In a break with tradition, his inauguration took place in the tropical southwestern city of Cali, Colombia’s salsa capital, not at Congress in more buttoned-down Bogota.Among the guests was a smiling Gianni Infantino, the beleaguered FIFA president who faces scathing criticism over his now-shelved plan to open the World Cup and other competitions up to private investment.Powerful right-wing figures also attended, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Todd Blanche, Trump’s acting attorney general, who headed the U.S. delegation.De la Espriella’s leftist predecessor Gustavo Petro declined to attend the ceremony.He earlier left the presidential residence in the capital, bidding “farewell, freedom and life.”Cali has been the scene of several guerrilla pipe bomb attacks in the last few years, and the city saw beefed-up security for the occasion including 11,000 troops and an anti-drone system.De la Espriella’s narrow victory of less than one percentage point ended four years of Colombia’s first-ever leftist government.“We are beginning a new era!” he declared in his victory speech in June, after beating leftist rival Ivan Cepeda.He is now faced with a divided Congress, where he lacks a majority.Supporters hope De la Espriella will bring an iron fist when tackling crime and dissident armed groups after years of spluttering peace talks.“This government has a lot to prove. A lot was said during the campaign,” 46-year-old Marisol Peira told AFP in Cali.Petro tried and failed to negotiate peace with the country’s myriad armed groups.Experts say the gangs — once ideological but now focused on making money from cocaine trafficking and other illicit trades — used government truces as cover to grow.Petro is not going quietly. He called for mass protests in major cities on Friday, claiming election fraud without providing evidence.De la Espriella’s victory is yet another notch in the belt for Latin American right-wingers after electoral wins from Chile to Costa Rica on the back of security promises.Calling himself “The Tiger,” De la Espriella plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel to aid his war on guerrillas.His so-called “Plan Colombia II” is named in a nod to a multimillion-dollar agreement with Washington in the 2000s aimed at combating drug cartels and leftist groups.“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.”Although the original “Plan Colombia” succeeded in weakening key combat groups, it also led to allegations of serious human rights abuses.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.