Colombian businessman and right-wing politician Abelardo de la Espriella has been sworn in as the new president of Colombia during a ceremony held in the western city of Cali.

The inauguration was attended by several regional leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Chilean President José Antonio Kast and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, according to TASS.

De la Espriella secured victory in the presidential runoff held on June 21, winning 49.6% of the vote and paving the way for a shift in Colombia’s political direction.

Shortly after his inauguration, the US Department of State announced that Washington intends to provide $1 billion in assistance to support the new Colombian administration.

“The United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President de la Espriella’s Administration in achieving our shared goals,” the department said in a statement.

According to the statement, the funds will primarily support efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking across the Western Hemisphere. Part of the assistance is also expected to be directed toward economic development, trade and the mining sector.

Colombia to join Shield of the Americas

One of de la Espriella’s first announced policy initiatives was Colombia’s planned accession to the US-backed “Shield of the Americas” alliance.

In his inaugural speech, the new president said he planned to sign an executive order formalizing Colombia’s participation in the initiative.

“One of the first executive orders that I plan to sign after this ceremony will be the signing of the (act to join) Shield of the Americas,” he said.

De la Espriella described the initiative as a mechanism through which participating countries can strengthen cooperation, exchange strategic information and coordinate joint measures against threats to national and regional security.

He argued that Colombia, like other countries, cannot defeat transnational criminal organizations on its own and stressed the importance of coordinated international action.

The new president also pledged to strengthen Colombia’s relations with countries around the world, saying his administration would pursue ties based on “mutual respect.”

His foreign and security policies are expected to place greater emphasis on cooperation with the United States and regional governments in combating organized crime, drug trafficking and other transnational security threats. (ILKHA)