Issue Brief
August 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET
Geoff Ramsey and Ilona Barrero
Bottom lines up front
The Colombian armed conflict has become increasingly complex, as armed groups in the country have grown more fragmented and dispute with both security forces and each other.The election of Abelardo de la Espriella reflects public dissatisfaction with the previous Petro administration’s Paz Total approach.The de la Espriella administration has an opportunity to apply lessons from past peace efforts while pursuing a fundamentally different approach to Colombia’s armed conflict.
