US gifts $1bn to Colombia on new right-wing president's first day of office
Abelardo de la Espriella pledged a crackdown on organised crime in his first speech as president on Friday The US has pledged $1bn (£740m) in assistance to Colombia, after the country's new right-wing president was sworn in on Friday. Abelardo de la Espriella, an ally of US President Donald Trump, used his maiden speech to promise an "all-out war" on what he calls "narco-terrorism". The US state department announced the financial support as part of a "security package" to help de la Espriella achieve "our shared goals", which include fighting organised crime and illegal immigration. The new president's inauguration marks a dramatic shift to the right for Colombia, as he replaces the left-wing former leader Gustavo Petro, who frequently clashed with Trump. Trump endorsed de la Espriella during the election, and said he predicted a "much better relationship" with his new counterpart after his victory in June.
Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open BBC World ↗
SN
Scoop News DeskUs · Published Updated
Media link supplied by the Scoop Newsroom app.
Scoop News reporting summary
The text below was supplied by the Scoop Newsroom app. Third-party reporting is attributed in the source panel.
By contrast, US forces seized Venezuela's socialist president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a deadly night-time raid on his home, and charged them with weapons and drug offences , which they deny.