Abelardo de la Espriella vows military action, holds inauguration in Cali

Colombia’s new president will be sworn in on Friday in a high-security inauguration in the embattled city of Cali, marking a sharp break with tradition and a tougher stance on armed groups.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative outsider and former criminal defense lawyer, takes office after winning a campaign that promised to crack down on rebel groups and slash public spending. His inauguration will be held in Cali, a city plagued by drug violence and rebel attacks, instead of the capital Bogotá. Around 11,000 troops will patrol the streets, drones are banned, and private vehicles will be banned from roads during the event. Among the guests are heads of state from Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, and Spain, as well as U.S. officials and FIFA’s president.

De la Espriella has vowed to restore state control over rural and urban areas, calling sovereignty a top priority. He plans to end ongoing peace talks with rebel groups and use military force instead. His approach contrasts sharply with that of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, who pursued a policy of “Total Peace” through negotiations. Critics say Petro’s strategy backfired, allowing armed groups to regroup and expand their influence in rural regions, where they extort businesses and profit from illegal mining and drug trafficking.

Analysts say de la Espriella’s hardline stance signals a rightward shift after four years of left-leaning government. Elizabeth Dickinson of the International Crisis Group called it “the pendulum swinging back to the right.” De la Espriella also supports reviving aerial spraying of coca crops and building large prisons, reversing policies that environmental groups had criticized. Whether his tougher approach will weaken rebel groups or fuel more violence remains to be seen—but his agenda is clear: remake Colombia’s security strategy and challenge the fragile peace that has defined the country for decades.