Far-right Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella greets supporters following preliminary results that show him leading leftist Ivan Cepeda, in Barranquilla, Colombia, on June 21. He was inaugurated Friday, and the U.S. Department of State pledged $1 billion for security threats. File photo by Mauricio Duenas Castaneda/EPA
Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of State announced Friday that the United States intends to give $1 billion to the new government of Colombia, which is now in the control of Abelardo de la Espriella, the right-wing candidate backed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a press release, the State Department said the government sent a delegation led by now-confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche to Colombia to attend the inauguration of de la Espriella in Cali, Colombia, on Friday.
"The delegation demonstrates U.S. commitment to reinvigorating the U.S.-Colombia relationship and deepening of our shared security and economic partnership," the press release from the office of the State Department's spokesperson said. "As a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, the United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President de la Espriella's administration in achieving our shared goals."
