"He won, big!": Trump congratulates Colombia president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella
Washington DC, June 22
US President Donald Trump on Sunday congratulated Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, following his election victory.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "He won, big!" and alongwith it attached a news article which provided an analysis on the victory of the Right-wing candidate backed by him.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also congratulated Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, signalling that the Trump administration is prepared to work closely with the incoming government on security, migration and economic issues.
In a post on X, Rubio said, "Just spoke to Colombian President-Elect @ABDELAESPRIELLA to congratulate him on his electoral victory. The Trump Administration looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration to advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen our economic ties. Colombia's best days are ahead."
According to The Washington Post, de la Espriella, a far-right lawyer and outspoken supporter of US President Donald Trump, won at least 49.6 per cent of the vote in Colombia's presidential election, narrowly ahead of leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda by less than one percentage point.
The news report said that Colombian President Gustavo Petro has not formally recognised a winner and said a ballot review process would determine the outcome. If confirmed, de la Espriella's victory would extend a broader trend identified by The Washington Post of right-wing, pro-Trump candidates gaining power across Latin America.
As per the Washington Post, in Argentina, President Javier Milei, a populist Trump ally, expanded his power in Congress last fall after Trump offered the country a USD 40 billion bailout conditioned on his party's win.
In Honduras, a conservative mayor was elected president after Trump endorsed him and threatened to cut aid to the country if he lost.
Trump-friendly right-leaning candidates have also defeated "leftists" in Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador.
The news report said that de la Espriella has pledged a hardline security agenda, including building megaprisons for drug traffickers, bombing what he calls "narco-terrorist camps," and ending Petro's peace initiatives with guerrilla groups. He has also drawn comparisons to El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele through his tough-on-crime platform.
Trump had previously endorsed de la Espriella, calling him a "Smart, Strong, and Tough Leader," while describing his rival Cepeda as a "Radical Left Marxist." The US president said Colombia's future relationship with Washington would benefit from de la Espriella's leadership if the election result is upheld.
The Washington Post noted that relations between Trump and Petro have been strained, with disagreements over US anti-drug operations in the region and allegations from Petro that Washington sought to influence Colombia's election.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Every time I see Trump congratulating someone, I wonder if this is about real diplomacy or just his ego. Colombia's new president seems more focused on hardline policies than on people's welfare. Hope the drug war doesn't escalate into more violence. 😞
As an Indian, I see parallels with our own politics – the rise of strongman leaders who promise quick fixes. Megaprisons and bombing camps might sound tough, but real security comes from addressing root causes like poverty and inequality. Let's see if Colombia can avoid the mistakes others have made.
Trump-backed candidates winning across Latin America shows his enduring appeal. But for India, this is concerning – if the US can influence elections in its backyard, what about elsewhere? We need to be cautious about external interference in our own democratic processes. 🧐
The margin is less than 1% and Petro hasn't conceded. This could get messy. India has faced close elections before, so we understand the tension. The international community should respect Colombia's electoral process, whatever the final result. 🙏
I'm a bit skeptical about this "right-wing wave" narrative. Every country has its own dynamics – Colombia's drug violence is a serious issue, and people may be voting for security over ideology. India's own experience with Naxalism shows there are no easy answers. Let's not jump to conclusions.
M We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.