Capital district of Atlántico, Colombia; a major port and the country’s gateway to the Caribbean.
Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia’s presidential runoff with 49.7% to Iván Cepeda’s 48.7%, signaling a shift to the right. The victory could reshape security policy, economics, and relations with the United States as protests flare in several cities.
Abelardo de la Espriella has secured a narrow victory in Colombia's presidential runoff, pledging a hard-line security approach and a renewed alliance with Israel. Iván Cepeda contests the result as Petro-era policies face upheaval. Protests erupt in Cali as results tighten and markets watch for policy shifts.
The United States–backed Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia’s presidential runoff, defeating Iván Cepeda by about 250,000 votes. Cepeda has conceded after the official count matched the preliminary tally, and Petro announces a transition. De la Espriella pledges a hardline security stance and closer ties with allies, while Cepeda’s camp highlights foreign interference. The transition date is set for August 7.
Colombia’s presidential runoff winner is under pressure over US citizenship and possible conflicts of interest. Senator Iván Cepeda has urged Abelardo de la Espriella to renounce his US citizenship and clarify whether he is an agent of the United States. Cepeda warns of civil disobedience if legality conditions are not met.
Two separate bomb attacks have marred Abelardo de la Espriella’s first week in office, killing at least one officer and wounding others. The army has attributed one tollbooth blast near Cali to dissident FARC factions and reported a drone strike on a police station in Cesar. De la Espriella has pledged a forceful crackdown and the US has pledged a $1bn security package.
Colombia has recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, joining the United States as the only UN member state to back Israel’s claim. The move follows the new president’s pledge to align more closely with Israel and to restore ties after disagreements with the previous administration. Reactions are swift, with Syria and other regional powers condemning the decision as a breach of international law.