Right-wing lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in on Friday (August 7) as Colombia's new president, after winning a June runoff on promises to crack down on armed groups, shrink the state by as much as 40% and revive the oil and gas sector.

An ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, De La Espriella, 48, represented well-known right-wing paramilitaries during his time as a lawyer. He has never before held elected office.

De La Espriella is part of a rightward shift rippling across Latin America. Some of his right-wing counterparts, like Chile's José Antonio Kast, Ecuador's Daniel Noboa and Argentina's Javier Milei, were also in attendance during the swearing-in ceremony.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CALI, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 7, 2026) (ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA - Access all)

1. COLOMBIA’S NEW PRESIDENT ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA, WIFE ANA LUCIA PINEDA AND CHILDREN ARRIVING AT SWEARING IN CEREMONY

2. DE LA ESPRIELLA AND HIS FAMILY POSING FOR PICTURES

3. DE LA ESPRIELLA GREETING ATTENDEES

4. ARENA OF THE UNIVERSITY SANTIAGO DE CALI WHERE EVENT IS TAKING PLACE

5. DE LA ESPRIELLA GREETING PRESIDENT OF THE CONGRESS, SENATOR HONORIO HENRIQUEZ PINEDO

6. DE LA ESPRIELLA AND HENRIQUEZ PINEDO ON STAGE, STANDING IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIA’S CONGRESS PRESIDENT, SENATOR HONORIO HENRIQUEZ PINEDO, SAYING:

“Doctor Abelardo de la Espriella, invoking the protection of God, do you swear before this body, which represents the people of Colombia, to faithfully and loyally fulfill the duties that the office of President of the Republic of Colombia imposes upon you, in accordance with the Political Constitution and the laws”

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIA’S PRESIDENT, ABELARDO DE LA ESRPEILLA, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE STARTS OVER SHOT OF HENRIQUEZ LISTENING AND CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF DE LA ESPRIELLA SWEARING, AND GENERAL SHOT OF STAGE)

“I swear to God and promise to the people that I will faithfully uphold the Constitution and laws of Colombia.”

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIA’S CONGRESS PRESIDENT, SENATOR HONORIO HENRIQUEZ PINEDO, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE STARTS OVER SHOT OF POLITICIANS ON STAGE AND CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF HENRIQUEZ SPEAKING, AND ENDS OVER SHOT OF DE LA ESRPRIELLA LISTENING)

“If you do so, may God and this body of the people reward you. If not, may He and they hold you accountable. Congratulations, Mr. President.”

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIA’S PRESIDENT, ABELARDO DE LA ESRPEILLA, SAYING: (SOUNBDBITE PLAYS OVER GENERAL SHOT OF ESPRIELLA ON STAGE)

“Steadfast for the homeland.”

11. DE LA ESPRIELLA LOOKING ON

12. VARIOUS OF DE LA ESPRIELLA RECEIVING PRESIDENTIAL SASH FROM HENRIQUEZ PINEDO AND HUGGING HIM

13. DE LA ESPRIELLA LOOKING ON

14. VARIOUS OF DE LA ESPRIELLA HUGGING AND KISSING WIFE AND CHILDREN

15. EVENT IN PROGRESS

16. EARLIER FOOTAGE OF CHILE’S PRESIDENT JOSE ANTONIO KAST ARRIVING TO CEREMONY

17. PANAMA PRESIDENT JOSE RAUL MULINO POSING FOR PICTURES

18. VARIOUS OF ARGENTINA’S PRESIDENT JAVIER MILEI ARRIVING AND POSING

19. VARIOUS OF ECUADOR’S PRESIDENT DANIEL NOBOA ARRIVING

20. PARAGUAY’S PRESIDENT SANTIAGO PENA POSING

21. VARIOUS OF KING OF SPAIN, FELIPE VI ARRIVING AND POSING

22. VARIOUS OF COLOMBIA’S FORMER PRESIDENTS IVAN DUQUE AND ALVARO URIBE ARRIVING TO CEREMONY