Colombia’s new president brings country back into Trump’s orbit, with some difficulties

Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella, Colombia’s newly elected president, wants to restore the country’s standing as the United States’ leading partner in Latin America. His effort follows a sharp deterioration in relations under outgoing president Gustavo Petro, whose policies and confrontational dealings with Donald Trump strained the partnership.

Petro took office in 2022 and pursued “total peace”, prioritising negotiations and addressing the causes of conflict over military action against armed groups. The article says violence by leftist guerrillas and drug cartels escalated during his presidency, while relations with Washington reached a low point; it provides no details on how de la Espriella plans to rebuild them.