US pledges $1 billion security aid to Colombia as Trump-endorsed president takes office
The US State Department announced it will provide Colombia with $1 billion in security assistance as the country's new right-wing President Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn into office. De la Espriella, who calls himself "The Tiger," vowed in his inaugural speech at a military garrison to "defeat narco-terrorists."
The US State Department announced late Friday that it will provide $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia as the country's new right-wing president, Abelardo De La Espriella, was sworn into office.
De la Espriella, who calls himself "The Tiger," vowed to "defeat narco-terrorists" in his first presidential speech, delivered at a military garrison in Cali. The aid package is expected to bolster Colombia's fight against drug trafficking and armed groups operating in the country.
De la Espriella's election is seen as the latest example of Washington's support for Latin American leaders aligned with the Trump administration. Analysts are watching closely to see how the assistance shifts the regional balance of power.
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