Trump-backed 'El Tigre' wins Colombian presidency, vows 90-day air strikes on drug lords

Colombians have elected Abelardo de la Espriella, a lawyer backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, as their new president. De la Espriella, who ran on a strong security and anti-drug platform, secured a narrow victory in the presidential runoff election.

Known by his nickname 'El Tigre' (The Tiger), De la Espriella has pledged to abandon the current peace negotiations with rebel groups. Instead, he plans to initiate a forceful 90-day aerial offensive aimed at dismantling drug cartels and other armed organizations. This hardline stance on security and crime was a central theme of his campaign.

De la Espriella, who holds dual U.S. and Colombian citizenship, campaigned without traditional suits, opting instead for the Colombian national soccer team's yellow jersey as his signature look. His supporters, also clad in yellow, celebrated his win, which he discussed with Trump shortly after the results were announced.

Despite the victory, the election outcome was extremely close, with De la Espriella winning by less than one percentage point over his left-wing opponent, Ivan Cepeda. Furthermore, his political coalition does not hold a majority in Congress. These factors raise questions about his capacity to effectively implement his proposed security policies and the potential impact on the ongoing peace process in Colombia, which has struggled with persistent drug trafficking and armed group activity since a 2016 peace accord with the FARC.

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I will stop peace negotiations with the rebels and push for a 90-day aerial strike operation to weaken drug cartels and armed groups.