Latin American right-wing leaders congratulate Colombia's new president Abelardo de la Espriella

Right-wing leaders across the Americas congratulated Abelardo de la Espriella on Sunday following his election as Colombia's new president, marking a shift from the left-wing government of Gustavo Petro.

De la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer who calls himself 'El Tigre' (The Tiger), secured 49.7% of the vote in the runoff against Senator Iván Cepeda, an ally of the outgoing leftist president, according to official preliminary counts. He promised to align with the right in the region, especially with U.S. President Donald Trump, who he said expressed his support after celebrating the victory in a call.

Argentine President Javier Milei was among the first to offer his congratulations, stating that "the majority of Colombians chose the path of economic freedom, prosperity, and relentless security." Milei, known as 'El León' (The Lion) for his distinctive hair and strong criticism of the left, added on X, "Freedom is advancing throughout Latin America and there is no turning back. Long live freedom, damn it!" He emphasized the symbolic pairing of "The Lion and the Tiger roar in Latin America!"

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa stated that "Colombia chose order over impunity," referencing his own criticisms of Petro's approach to crime. "We share the conviction that our region deserves security, progress, and governments that confront crime without excuses," Noboa added on X. Chilean President José Antonio Kast also congratulated De la Espriella on his "great electoral triumph."

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado expressed hopes for good relations with Colombia. "We know we will have a great ally in Venezuela's democratic transition and that together, we will achieve prosperity and security for our people," she said. De la Espriella has been a vocal critic of the Venezuelan interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez.