Spain's King and 7 Latin American Presidents to Attend Colombia President's Inauguration

Cali, Colombia – King Felipe VI of Spain and leaders from seven Latin American nations are set to attend the inauguration of Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, in Cali on August 7. This marks a significant diplomatic gathering for the city, which will host the presidential swearing-in for the first time outside the traditional venue of Bogotá.

Mayor Alejandro Eder announced that ten high-level delegations have confirmed their attendance. Alongside the Spanish monarch, the presidents of Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Chile, and Honduras are expected. Vice presidents from El Salvador and Guatemala, along with the prime minister of Curaçao and Brazil's foreign minister, will also be present.

The inauguration is notable for its planned decentralization of power, a key promise from president-elect De la Espriella. He stated that the ceremony, to be held at the Arena USC at the University of Santiago de Cali, will be austere and serve as the first demonstration of his commitment to making decentralization a reality rather than just a discourse.

Notably, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar will attend, signaling an immediate resumption of diplomatic relations with Colombia. These ties were severed in May 2024 by the previous Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, in protest against the war in Gaza. The attendance of a high-level delegation from the United States is also anticipated, given De la Espriella's past ties to the administration of former President Donald Trump.