In brief
Former President Donald Trump has said that the United States will have a "much better relationship" with Colombia once Abelardo de la Espriella takes office. The preliminary results show Espriella just ahead of left‑wing candidate Iván Cepeda, prompting Trump to pledge cooperation on drug‑trafficking and to invite Colombia into the Shield of the Americas alliance. Critics warn that a hard‑line approach could relapse the country into human‑rights abuses, yet Espriella assures that operations will stay within constitutional limits. The new president will be sworn in on August 7, 2026.
In a statement to reporters this week, former U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will enjoy a "much better relationship" with Colombia now that Abelardo de la Espriella has won the presidential runoff.
The preliminary vote count, not yet legally binding, showed Espriella ahead of left‑wing challenger Iván Cepeda by less than one percentage point, a margin that has historically been the narrowest in Colombian elections.
Trump endorsed Espriella before the vote and called Cepeda a "radical left Marxist." He hopes the new Colombian leader will cooperate in tackling drug trafficking and allow U.S. forces to work inside Colombian territory.
Espriella, who campaigned on a promise to bomb drug‑trafficking gangs, pledged to uphold the rule of law while cracking down on the drug trade. He also intends to bring Colombia into the "Shield of the Americas" alliance.
Critics worry that a hard‑line stance could spark a resurgence of human‑rights abuses, such as the false‑positives killings that have plagued the country. Espriella said he would carry out counter‑drug operations within constitutional limits.
The new president will take office on 7 August 2026. Trump’s optimism has been welcomed by many diplomats, although former Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been at odds with the U.S. in past years.
