In brief
Donald Trump has said he expects a "much better" relationship with Colombia after his preferred candidate, Abelardo de la Espriella, won a narrow preliminary run‑off vote. The former president branded the rival Iván Cepeda a "radical Left Marxist" and called his new ally a "great" president. Trump’s blunt criticism of former Colombian president Gustavo Petro—calling him a "sick man" and a "drug‑trafficking leader"—has spurred a fraught history between Washington and Bogotá. De la Espriella plans to crush drug cartels and invite US bases, a policy Trump greets with optimism. The new president will take office on 7 August, setting the stage for a reshaped U.S.‑Colombia partnership.
On Monday, former President Donald Trump told reporters that he believes his administration will have a “much better relationship” with Colombia now that Abelardo de la Espriella, the right‑wing challenger, appears to have won the run‑off election.
The preliminary vote count showed de la Espriella ahead by less than one percentage point, a narrow margin that still sparked a tense atmosphere. De la Espriella’s platform focuses on sharply hitting drug cartels, with promises of increased US cooperation—“stronger defense ties” and potential US bases—alongside a pledge to fight crime “within the law and constitution.”
Trump has since described the new president as “a great” leader and expressed eagerness to forge a powerful partnership. He stressed that the prior “barbs” exchanged between his administration and former president Gustavo Petro, whom he called a “sick man,” will put an end to a strained era.
Critics of de la Espriella worry that a hardline stance might revive past abuses, such as the “false positives” killings during Colombia’s long‑running conflict. In his victory speech, the candidate responded that any crackdown on drug traffickers would be carried out “legally.”
De la Espriella’s inauguration is scheduled for 7 August, which will bring a definitive pivot in the US‑Colombia relationship, according to Trump’s optimistic tone on Truth Social.
Source: BBC News, 23 June 2026
