Colombia's new president vows to remake the country — and challenge its fragile peace

The Americas Colombia's new president vows to remake the country — and challenge its fragile peace August 7, 202611:41 AM ET By  Manuel Rueda Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella speaks during a press conference in Bogota, Colombia, July 30, 2026. John Vizcaino/AP hide caption toggle caption John Vizcaino/AP BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia's new president will be sworn into office Friday amid tight security measures aimed at preventing protests and potential attacks by rebel groups. Abelardo de la Espriella, an outspoken conservative who has been praised by President Trump, has promised to confront rebel groups in Colombia with greater military force while cutting government spending to reduce a budget deficit that doubled under outgoing President Gustavo Petro. De la Espriella, a former criminal defense lawyer who ran as a political outsider, is breaking with tradition by holding his inauguration ceremony in Cali rather than the capital, Bogotá. The 48-year-old chose the southwestern city, which has been hit hard by drug violence and attacks from rebel groups, as the site of his swearing-in. Sponsor Message Some 11,000 troops have been deployed to the city to ensure the safety of the new president and the roughly dozen heads of state attending the inauguration. Those expected to attend include Argentina's Javier Milei, Ecuador's Daniel Noboa and Chile's José Antonio Kast, alongside U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and King Felipe VI of Spain. Drones have been banned, and privately owned vehicles will not be allowed on city roads during Inauguration Day. "One of the fundamental priorities of my government will be to exert control of our territory," de la Espriella said in a speech earlier this week. "If we don't control our cities and our rural areas, this nation will lose its sovereignty." Over the past four years, drug gangs and rebel groups linked to decades of political conflict in Colombia have become in...