Far-right populist Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia’s presidential election on June 21, backed by Trump and with a record 12.9 million votes.
The result marks a sharp political right turn for Colombia, ending the country’s first left-wing presidency under outgoing leader Gustavo Petro.
Who Is Abelardo de la Espriella, Colombia’s New President?
De la Espriella is a millionaire businessman and criminal defense attorney who branded himself ‘El Tigre’ (The Tiger) during the campaign.
He is a political newcomer who built his profile as an outspoken television personality before entering the 2026 presidential race.
Donald Trump endorsed De la Espriella during the campaign, giving him a high-profile international backer that boosted his outsider credentials.
Per Al Jazeera reporting, he narrowly won the runoff with 49.65% of the vote versus 48.70% for his opponent Cepeda.
His 12.9 million votes make him the most voted presidential candidate in Colombian history by total vote count.
De la Espriella’s Colombia Election Policies: Security and Economy
On his first day in office, De la Espriella has promised a sweeping military offensive against guerrilla groups still active in rural Colombia.
He stated in a television interview that he would ‘bomb all of the camps holding narco-terrorists,’ signaling a major security policy shift.
De la Espriella plans to reverse Petro’s moratorium on new hydrocarbon and mining contracts, reopening Colombia’s countryside to fracking.
On the economy, he favors attracting foreign investment in energy extraction and reducing the regulatory barriers that Petro’s government imposed.
Per Time magazine analysis, the Colombia election result mirrors a broader Latin American trend of voters turning toward right-wing security platforms.
What Espriella’s Right-Wing Win Means for Colombia’s Peace Process
Petro’s government pursued peace negotiations with guerrilla groups including the ELN and FARC dissidents, a process De la Espriella has condemned.
De la Espriella’s plan to bomb guerrilla camps would effectively end the peace process that Petro spent four years building.
Human rights organizations have warned that a military-first approach risks increasing civilian casualties in Colombia’s conflict zones.
The incoming president will also face pressure from rural communities who depend on illegal crop cultivation for their livelihoods.
The Colombia election result reflects the same global tension between security-focused right-wing candidates and peace-oriented progressives covered in our analysis of political shifts in 2026.
Colombia’s Relationship With the US Under De la Espriella
Trump’s endorsement signals a strong US-Colombia relationship from day one, potentially accelerating trade and security cooperation agreements.
De la Espriella’s support for US counter-narcotics operations contrasts sharply with Petro’s criticism of American drug policy approaches.
The US had strained relations with Colombia under Petro after a diplomatic spat over deportation flights earlier in 2025.
With a Trump ally in Bogota, those tensions are expected to ease quickly as both governments align on security and trade policy.
See our coverage of global diplomatic shifts in June 2026 for broader context on how political realignments are reshaping international relations.
Related Articles
Trust Post Desk
A journalist and editor at TrustPost.org covering world and national news, technology updates and human-interest stories. They check every fact, interview sources in person or online, and aim to deliver clear, accurate reporting. Their work ranges from breaking news to in-depth features and daily newsletters. Outside the newsroom, they follow emerging trends and engage with readers on social media.
