Colombia election: Trump's endorsement of far-right candidate draws criticism

Colombian leftist presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda has denounced U.S. President Donald Trump's "interference" in the South American nation's election campaign, just days before the June 21 runoff.

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serious danger to the national sovereignty

Trump, a Republican magnate, expressed his support for far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella on Tuesday. De la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer, surprised many by winning the first round on Sunday but did not secure enough votes to avoid a second round against Cepeda, the protégé of outgoing President Gustavo Petro.

Cepeda told reporters that Washington's stance showed a desire for "interference," warning of a "serious danger to the national sovereignty" of Colombia. In contrast, the 47-year-old de la Espriella thanked Trump for his "crucial support." He pledged to elevate bilateral relations with the U.S. to an "unprecedented" level if elected, succeeding the social democrat Petro, Colombia's first leftist president in modern history.

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crucial support

The far-right candidate promises a very tough stance, with U.S. support, against rebel factions and criminal organizations in the country, which ranks first globally in cocaine production. Trump has publicly supported several other right-wing and far-right figures in Latin America, including Argentina's President Javier Milei and Chile's President José Antonio Kast.

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unprecedented

President Petro, who often clashes with his U.S. counterpart, particularly on social media, urged Colombian citizens to vote with "absolute freedom," advising them not to choose to become "slaves" or the country a "colony" of anyone. The first poll since the initial round shows the far-right candidate as the favorite in the upcoming runoff.

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absolute freedom