US PLEDGES $1BN SECURITY AID TO COLOMBIA'S NEW PRESIDENT

The United States announced $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia on Friday as Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in as president. The US State Department said it intends to work with Congress to approve the assistance package to support De La Espriella's administration in achieving "shared goals". De La Espriella, 48, took office after winning June's runoff election. His inauguration took place at the Pichincha Battalion military base in Cali, a break with tradition as previous inaugurations have been held at Congress in Bogotá.

In his inaugural speech, De La Espriella pledged to fight drug trafficking and armed groups, stating that members of criminal gangs and narco-terrorist groups must "submit to the rule of law or face the determined response of the Colombian state". He said the option of peace talks with armed groups had been "completely exhausted", a reference to the previous administration's peace negotiations. De La Espriella campaigned on promises to crack down on armed groups, shrink the state by as much as 40 per cent, and revive the oil and gas sector. He received the endorsement of Donald Trump before the runoff election and holds dual US and Colombian citizenship.

De La Espriella's election reflects a broader rightward shift across Latin America. According to reports, he has indicated willingness to host US troops on Colombian soil and to join the Shield of the Americas, Trump's regional anti-cartel alliance. His administration has outlined plans to construct "mega-prisons" and conduct operations against cocaine production facilities in jungle areas.