Bogotá : Abelardo De La Espriella, the new President of the Republic of Colombia, was sworn in on Friday, pledging to launch a strong campaign against drug trafficking and armed groups, restore security and order, and take economic measures to reduce public spending and boost investment.
In his inauguration speech, De La Espriella, a 48-year-old former lawyer who belongs to the right-wing, said armed groups linked to drugs faced two choices: submit to the rule of law or face a firm response from the state and its security forces, stressing that the option of negotiating with these groups had been exhausted.
The Colombian President also pledged to expand oil and gas exploration and strengthen Ecopetrol, as well as combat coca cultivation using methods he said would not harm health or the environment, while preserving social programmes.
The US State Department announced that President Donald Trump’s administration plans to provide $1 billion in security assistance to the De La Espriella government as part of a package to support shared security objectives. It also welcomed Colombia’s joining the Shield of the Americas alliance to combat drug trafficking.
