Colombia’s New President Demands U.S. Military Aid Against Narco-Terrorism

Colombia’s new right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella has requested assistance from the United States in combating narco-terrorism, including joint military operations in the region. According to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, President de la Espriella has sought collaboration with the U.S. for joint military operations against narco-terrorism. Following his inauguration last week, de la Espriella declared that his administration would bring “the wrath of God” to drug traffickers, vowing to “end them like cockroaches, like rats.” On Wednesday in Panama, during a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition—also known as Shield of the Americas, a multinational coalition against drug trafficking across North, Central, and South America—Colombia announced its joining as the group’s 19th member. This initiative, established by former President Donald J. Trump and other Latin American leaders in March to combat drug cartels, has seen Colombia authorize “joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks.” The U.S. government has designated multiple Colombian drug trafficking groups as terrorist organizations. The Secretary of War stated that “designated terrorist organizations, with partnered governments, will be legitimate targets of the United States government.” The collaboration signifies a strengthened alliance between the U.S. and Colombia in the fight against drug cartels, fulfilling de la Espriella’s campaign promise to adopt a tougher stance on drug traffickers and narco-terrorism. The expansion of Shield of the Americas demonstrates a growing regional trend of aligning with the U.S. in tackling illegal drug trade, indicating a shift toward more militaristic approaches rather than relying solely on standard law enforcement. This development follows a week-long political tension after far-left former President Gustavo Petro refused to recognize de la Espriella’s victory over his party’s presidential candidate, threatening “civil war” if President de la Espriella was inaugurated. De la Espriella’s election reflects an ongoing pattern of South American countries shifting to the right, with nations including Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru having elected right-leaning candidates in recent years.