US intends to send $1 billion in aid to Colombia following de la Espriella's inauguration

Published on 08/08/2026 - 9:33 GMT+2•Updated 9:37

The US State Department said on Friday that it planned to announce a $1 billion security package for new Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella's right-wing administration.

In a press release, the office of the spokesperson for the department said the package aimed to help Washington and Bogotá achieve "our shared goals."

De la Espriella was sworn in as president on Friday in a ceremony attended by a US delegation that included acting attorney general Todd Blanche.

"The delegation demonstrates U.S. commitment to reinvigorating the U.S.-Colombia relationship and deepening of our shared security and economic partnership," the State Department said.

US President Donald Trump has been highly complimentary of de la Espriella, calling him a "smart, strong, and tough leader" that he predicted would be "tremendously successful" as president of Colombia and as a ballast for the right in the South American nation. Trump previously said de la Espriella would have the "total support and strength of the United States behind him" in office.

On Friday, Washington said Colombia had also now joined the "Shield of the Americas," an alliance of governments stretching from the US across Central and South America that has vowed to fight narcotrafficking groups.

"The Trump Administration welcomes Colombia joining the Shield of the Americas and stands ready to support the de la Espriella Administration’s efforts to defeat the vicious narcoterrorist and criminal organizations that threaten U.S., Colombian, and hemispheric security and economic prosperity," the State Department said.

The US has become increasingly involved in Latin America during Trump's second term in the White House, carrying out strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats coming from the region and launching an operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has since been held in custody in New York on charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking - to which he has pleaded not guilty.