US Pledges $1bn to Colombia Under Trump-Backed President
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- Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia's right-wing president in Cali — not Bogotá — addressing troops at a nearby military base and pledging an 'all-out war' on 'narco-terrorism,' promising a brutal crackdown and mega-prisons instead of peace talks with armed groups.
- The US State Department announced a $1bn (£1bn) 'security package' to support de la Espriella's fight against organized crime and illegal immigration, framing it as a 'new era' in US-Colombia relations under his 'pro-growth agenda.'
- Trump endorsed de la Espriella during the June election and predicted a 'much better relationship'; de la Espriella responded by joining the Trump-founded 'Shield of the Americas' security partnership as one of his first acts in office.
- De la Espriella promised a strong military alliance with the US and Israel — a stark break from left-wing predecessor Gustavo Petro, a long-time critic of Netanyahu.
- The inauguration was attended by a US delegation led by then-acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who has since been confirmed to the post, alongside embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
- Critics warned that de la Espriella's confrontational style could deepen Colombia's polarization; the new president's prior career included representing drug-trafficking paramilitaries, footballers and fraudsters.
Why it matters: The $1bn package and Colombia's entry into the 'Shield of the Americas' anchor a rightward pivot in Latin America, with de la Espriella replacing Petro's peace-dialogue approach with a militarized, US-Israeli-aligned crackdown on armed groups and narco-trafficking.
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