Colombia swore in Abelardo de la Espriella as its new president on Friday, and the United States has offered the country $1 billion in security assistance.
DR reports that Colombia officially got its new president on Friday, August 7. De la Espriella won a narrow election before the summer holidays, after a short political career. According to DR, he is best known as a successful businessman and as a star lawyer for right-wing politicians.
DR’s South America correspondent, Kristian Almblad, says the new president has already set a clear course. Drug cartels and criminal gangs are to be cracked down on. Beyond the hard line against the cartels, de la Espriella also intends to cut the public sector and revive Colombia’s gas and oil industry.
The U.S. State Department has announced that it will make $1 billion in security assistance available to Colombia, as reported by DR. The money is intended in part for the fight against organized crime. The offer was announced in connection with de la Espriella’s inauguration.
Almblad assesses that the new Colombian president resembles several other South American leaders who have taken power in recent years. He points to Javier Milei in Argentina, Keiko Fujimori in Peru and José Antonio Kast in Chile. Per the correspondent, these presidents also resemble U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Almblad, right-wing politicians have gained ground because they promise to get crime under control. He says crime is a very large problem in many South American countries, and that voters are turning toward a strong man. As stated by the correspondent, the right promises order through more prisons and more police.
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Regional context
DR notes that the next closely watched vote in the region is in Brazil, where President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces the right. Almblad describes the likely challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, as another figure in the same mold. The Brazilian election takes place on October 4, 2026.
AS/COA confirms the October 4 date and notes that a runoff would be held on October 25 if no presidential candidate wins a majority in the first round. Americas Quarterly adds that the vote covers the president and vice president as well as members of Congress and state-level offices.
Jyllands-Posten reported in August 2026 that Flávio Bolsonaro has been formally named the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate. Reuters reported in December 2025 that Jair Bolsonaro is barred from seeking public office and was sentenced to 27 years over a failed coup plot. According to Reuters, that helped explain why his son became the chosen candidate.
