BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian lawyer and presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has expressed gratitude towards U.S. President Donald Trump for endorsing his campaign, following his success in the first round of Colombia's presidential elections. De la Espriella's performance in the elections is particularly notable as the political landscape in the region appears to be shifting towards the right.
President Trump, taking to the social platform X, indicated that stronger bilateral ties could be expected if the conservative candidate secures victory over progressive candidate Iván Cepeda in the upcoming presidential runoff. Trump's endorsement came a day earlier on the Truth Social platform, where he characterized de la Espriella as an "intelligent, strong and tough leader" who is prepared to confront a "radical leftist Marxist" in the runoff scheduled for June 21.
In response to Trump's support, de la Espriella, also known by his moniker "El Tigre" or "The Tiger," expressed his appreciation on X, stating, "With my head held high and a heart full of patriotic gratitude, I receive your words and your steadfast support. Thank you, Mr. President!"
This is not the first instance of Trump backing candidates in foreign elections, which has drawn criticism from some quarters concerned about U.S. interference in other nations' domestic politics. In the previous year, Trump endorsed Nasry "Tito" Asfura, the National Party presidential candidate in Honduras, who subsequently won. He has also supported Javier Milei, a libertarian candidate in Argentina, during pivotal legislative elections.
The endorsement of de la Espriella emphasizes the current strains in relations between Washington and Bogota, which have deteriorated under Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Disagreements have surfaced regarding various issues, including migration, military actions in Gaza, and anti-narcotics measures, with particular focus on the bombing of drug boats in the Caribbean.
In a rebuttal to Trump’s support for de la Espriella, President Petro urged voters to exercise their right to vote freely, emphasizing that no country should dictate the decisions of another to avoid becoming "anyone's slaves or colony." Petro stated, "When a country intervenes in the decisions of another country, freedom dies," a clear criticism of foreign influence in national elections.
Despite being Colombia's largest export market and historically considered an ally, U.S.-Colombia relations have significantly cooled under the current Colombian administration. De la Espriella, who possesses dual Colombian and U.S. citizenship and is actively involved in the Republican Party, has no prior experience in elected office. He garnered 43.74% of the votes in the first round of the election, slightly ahead of Sen. Iván Cepeda, who received 40.90%, according to preliminary counts.
De la Espriella has expressed alignment with U.S. policies, particularly in the realm of narcotics enforcement. He has committed to eradicating thousands of hectares of coca leaf crops—the raw material for cocaine—and to halting the drug trafficking that heads toward the United States.
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