Chilean President Kast travels to Colombia for Abelardo de la Espriella's presidential inauguration

Chilean President José Antonio Kast is traveling to Colombia on Thursday to attend the presidential inauguration of Abelardo de la Espriella, set to take place Friday in the city of Cali. The ceremony marks a significant moment for the region, with several ideologically aligned leaders expected to be present.

During his visit, President Kast is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the president-elect on Friday morning. He will later address reporters alongside his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francisco Pérez Mackena. Kast was among the first continental leaders to congratulate De la Espriella on his victory, stating that "a new era of freedom for Colombia begins" that will allow the country to regain security and prosperity.

Joining Kast at the inauguration will be a number of regional leaders who share De la Espriella's political leanings. These include Argentina's President Javier Milei, Ecuador's Daniel Noboa, Paraguay's Santiago Peña, Panama's José Raúl Mulino, Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz, and the Dominican Republic's Luis Abinader. The presence of these leaders underscores a broader political trend in Latin America.

Abelardo de la Espriella, leader of the Defensores de la Patria movement, secured the presidency after a closely contested runoff election on June 21, winning 49.7% of the vote compared to his left-wing opponent Iván Cepeda's 48.7%. His electoral triumph is seen as the latest chapter in the rise of far-right and traditional right-wing forces across Latin America and the Caribbean. This trend now governs 12 countries, united by common platforms of tough public security measures, tax cuts, and an international alliance projected towards the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.