Abelardo De La Espriella Takes Colombia With Billion-Dollar US Backing
August 8, 2026
As right-wing populist Abelardo De La Espriella is sworn into the Colombian presidency with a billion-dollar security package from the Trump administration, the ELN prepares for renewed armed conflict following a narrow runoff victory and contested vote fraud claims. This militarized transition anchors a wider regional shift across Latin America where executive crackdowns, biometric surveillance, and corporate deregulation converge into a new model of tech-supremacist governance.
-
BRIEF
De la Espriella sworn in as Colombia’s leader, vows armed group crackdown
The new president, who replaces leftist Gustavo Petro, continues the rightward political shift in Latin America.
- geopolitics
- structural power
-
BRIEF
Colombia on the brink: ELN guerrilla group prepares for return to war
As Abelardo de la Espriella takes office as president vowing a new military offensive, the country’s last leftwing rebels are getting ready to fight back As the boat approached the riverbank, camouflaged figures watched from the tree line. Behind them, in the dim understory of the jungle, a commande…
-
BRIEF
US promises $1bn in security aid to Colombia as new rightwing president pledges drugs crackdown
Trump ally Abelardo De La Espriella vows to start ‘profound transformation’ of country’s destiny as he is sworn in The Trump administration plans to provide $1bn in security assistance to the government of Colombia’s new rightwing president, the US state department announced, soon after Abelard…
-
BRIEF
Who are the Trump allies running Latin America? – Stateside with Kai and Carter
An outspoken conservative endorsed by Donald Trump was sworn into office as Colombia’s new president on Friday. Abelardo de la Espriella is the seventh rightwing politician to take office in Latin America since the start of Trump’s second term. Kai Wright speaks to former US ambassador to Panama Joh…
-
BRIEF
Colombia’s new president takes office vowing to ‘crush’ narco-terrorism
Right-wing politician Abelardo De La Espriella takes office after narrowly winning June’s presidential runoff.
- geopolitics
- structural power
-
BRIEF
Colombia minister warns of ‘terrorism’ threat at presidential inauguration
Presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Ecuador, along with Spain’s King Felipe VI, are expected to attend.
- geopolitics
- structural power
-
BRIEF
Colombia’s Road to Peace Runs Through the Countryside
Rural neglect has produced a continual security crisis.
- geopolitics
- structural power
-
BRIEF
Colombia’s Petro repeats vote fraud claims days before handing over power
Petro accuses programmers of altering vote counts and claims metadata tied to election results was hidden from review.
- geopolitics
- structural power
-
BRIEF
Latin America is becoming a laboratory for tech-supremacism
Trumpism, corporate deregulation and biometric surveillance are converging into a new model of control in the region.
- geopolitics
- structural power