Trump Hopes for Stronger Ties with Colombia After Election Upset

Donald Trump, who publicly backed Abelardo de la Espriella in the Colombian presidential runoff, has said he expects a 'much better relationship' with the South American country once the left‑wing candidate Iván Cepeda cedes the seat.

Trump first made the comment in a statement to reporters on Monday, arguing that de la Espriella had "won easily" despite his narrow 0.96 percentage point lead – the slimmest margin in recent Colombian history. Then, on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he was looking forward to working together 'to build a powerful relationship'.

The two historic allies have suffered in recent years as Trump traded barbs with former Colombian president Gustavo Petro. Trump dubbed Petro a "sick man" and a "drug‑trafficking leader" despite no proof, while Petro insisted that the US president’s immigration policy mirrored that of Nazis. Over a month ago, in a surprising move, Trump even urged that a military operation targeting neighboring Colombia sound "good".

De la Espriella campaigned on a promise to crack down on drug‑trafficking gangs and invite the US to cooperate more closely. He wants Colombia to join the "Shield of the Americas", a cooperative alliance of Latin American countries and the US aimed at battling cartels. While some voters fear a resurgence of human rights abuses under de la Espriella, the new president pledged to act within the bounds of law and the constitution.

The new Colombian president will be sworn into office on 7 August.