Trump Ally De la Espriella Sworn In as Colombia President

Abelardo de la Espriella officially took office as Colombia's new president on Friday, ushering in a significant rightward shift for the Andean nation. The former lawyer, known for his flamboyant style, pledged to wage an aggressive war against drug-running guerrillas, construct "mega-prisons," and implement a policy of reducing the size of the state.

De la Espriella and his Vice President Jose Manuel Restrepo celebrated their inauguration with a military salute. After four years of strained relations, the 48-year-old president, who holds dual U.S. and Colombian citizenship, has positioned himself as a key ally for the United States, offering to launch joint military operations and host U.S. troops on Colombian soil.

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We are beginning a new era!

The inauguration ceremony broke with tradition, taking place in Cali, the salsa capital, rather than the capital, Bogota. Cali has recently experienced guerrilla pipe bomb attacks, leading to heightened security, including 11,000 troops and an anti-drone system for the event. De la Espriella's narrow victory, by less than one percentage point, ended the term of Colombia's first-ever leftist government led by Gustavo Petro, who declined to attend the ceremony.

Facing a divided Congress where he lacks a majority, De la Espriella's supporters hope his administration will adopt a firm stance against crime and dissident armed groups, particularly after previous peace talks faltered. His predecessor, Petro, attempted peace negotiations with various armed groups, but experts suggest these gangs, now primarily driven by profit from cocaine trafficking, used truces to expand their operations. Petro has called for mass protests following his departure from office.

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This government has a lot to prove. A lot was said during the campaign.