The US state department announced plans to provide $1bn in security assistance to Colombia shortly after new rightwing president Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in and vowed a vigorous fight against drug trafficking.
The Trump administration plans to provide $1bn in security assistance to Colombia’s new government, the US state department announced, according to the Guardian. The pledge came soon after Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in as the country’s new rightwing president.
In his inaugural speech, De La Espriella pledged a vigorous fight against drug trafficking, as well as austerity measures intended to restore confidence in the economy. The BBC reported that he used his maiden speech to promise an “all-out war” on what he calls “narco-terrorism”.
De La Espriella, 48, won June’s runoff election on a platform of cracking down on armed groups, shrinking the state by as much as 40% and reviving the oil and gas sector, according to the Guardian.
A Trump ally, De La Espriella vowed to begin what he described as a “profound transformation” of the country’s destiny as he took office.
The $1bn security package aligns the new administration with US priorities on drug enforcement, tying Washington’s support to Colombia’s pledged crackdown on trafficking and armed groups.
Why it matters
Colombia is a central player in efforts to combat drug trafficking, and the $1bn US security package signals close alignment between Washington and the new administration in Bogotá. The pledged crackdown on armed groups and proposed cuts to the state could reshape both security policy and the country's economy.