Washington to provide $1 billion in aid to Colombia’s new government

On the day of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration, the US State Department announced that Washington plans to provide Colombia’s new government with $1 billion as part of a security assistance package.

Highlighting the “revitalization” of US-Colombia relations and the deepening of bilateral cooperation on security and economic issues, the State Department said that the Trump administration intends to provide “$1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President de la Espriella’s Administration in achieving our shared goals.”

The 48-year-old Abelardo de la Espriella was backed by US President Donald Trump during Colombia’s election campaign. He has pledged to govern “with an iron fist” by intensifying operations against guerrilla groups and drug cartels.