Right-leaning President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn into office as the President of Colombia on the 7th local time.

During the inauguration ceremony held at the USC Arena in the southwestern city of Cali, President de la Espriella took the presidential oath, declaring, "I will faithfully defend the Constitution and the laws."

With this inauguration, President de la Espriella will lead Colombia until August 2030.

The inauguration was attended by a large number of Latin American right-wing leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Paraguayan President Santiago Pena.

Representing the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche attended, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino and King Felipe VI of Spain.

Since his campaign, President de la Espriella has championed policies centered on strengthening security, cutting taxes, promoting pro-business and pro-market measures, and downsizing the government.

In particular, he has emphasized a strong crackdown on organized crime and drug cartels, including plans to build a "mega-prison" to reduce crime rates and bomb cocaine manufacturing facilities.

Previously, as president-elect, he announced that Colombia would join the "Shield of the Americas," an anti-cartel alliance led by the Donald Trump administration in the United States.

In his first official speech following his inauguration that day, President de la Espriella reiterated his commitment to uprooting drug cartels.

"The option of dialogue is now completely over," he said, adding, "We will inevitably defeat drug terrorism."

He also added, "We will never tolerate any attempt to shake the stability of the nation," and vowed to restore "order, authority, and freedom."

With Colombia, previously under leftist rule, shifting to a right-wing government, the majority of major Latin American nations now have right-wing administrations in power.

However, Brazil and Mexico, the top two economies in Latin America, remain governed by leftist administrations.

In October, Brazil's presidential election is expected to feature another fierce showdown between the left and the right.

If incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, bidding for a historic fourth term, wins, it could put the brakes on the "blue tide" (the wave of right-wing governments) that has shaken Latin America. Conversely, if conservative right-wing candidate Senator Flavio Bolsonaro wins, the "shift to the right" wind is expected to spread further, leaving Mexico largely isolated.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)