Colombia: Trump ally De la Espriella takes office

Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia's president on Friday, promising to boost ties with the United States and tackle armed groups linked to the drug trade.

The 48-year-old ex-lawyer lurches the Andean nation to the right, taking office after winning a close June 21 runoff against Sen. Ivan Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro.

In a speech shortly after his swearing-in, De la Espriella vowed once again to wipe out "narcoterrorism" in the South American country.

"The option of dialogue is completely exhausted," he said, referring to his predecessor, who had promoted a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

De la Espriella then promised to restore "order, authority and freedom" to the South American nation.

"There will be no room for maneuvers that undermine the stability of the nation," said the hardline leader, who has spoken of opening mega-prisons to house captured rebels and drug dealers.

Instead of the capital Bogota, the inauguration took place at a university in the southwestern city of Cali.

Colombia’s third-largest city is located near major drug-trafficking corridors and the Pacific coast, and is a regular scene of violence by rival groups.