New Colombian president, who has pledged to restore ties with Israel, takes office

Conservative Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia's president on Friday in Cali, signaling a hard-line approach to armed groups. He succeeds Gustavo Petro after winning a June 21 runoff. De la Espriella pledged to restore ties with Israel, sever them with Cuba and Nicaragua, and join the 'Shield of the Americas.' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar attended, and the two discussed moving Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem. Petro, who did not attend, vowed fierce opposition, urging 'people's militias' and a potential general strike.

Conservative Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia's president on Friday, August 7, 2026, in the southwestern city of Cali rather than the capital Bogota, a deliberate choice to signal his hard-line stance against illegal armed groups in the region. The 48-year-old, who has never held public office, won a close runoff election on June 21 against Senator Iván Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro. De la Espriella, a lawyer and businessman who financed his own campaign, represents a further rightward shift in Latin America. His inauguration was attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, King Felipe VI of Spain, acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and several Latin American leaders. After the ceremony, he planned to address troops at a military battalion in Cali, warning illegal groups to surrender or be declared 'military targets.' De la Espriella has pledged to break with Petro's policy of negotiating with armed groups, arguing the peace process failed. He also announced he will resume diplomatic relations with Israel, which were cut by Petro during the Gaza war, and sever ties with Cuba and Nicaragua, which he called 'tyrannies.' Sa'ar and de la Espriella met ahead of the inauguration, discussing bilateral relations and the relocation of Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem. Petro, who did not attend, vowed fierce opposition, urging supporters to organize 'people's militias' and prepare for a general strike. Protests occurred in Cali, Bogota, and Barranquilla.