Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de La Espriella, was inaugurated in Cali, deviating from the traditional Bogotá ceremony, as a deliberate message to armed groups operating in the region. The far-right leader, a staunch ally of former US President Trump, intends to drastically diverge from the policies of his leftist predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who did not attend the inauguration. De La Espriella, self-proclaimed "El Tigre," secured a narrow victory in June, campaigning on a platform of restoring order and cracking down on crime. He offered armed criminal groups and drug cartels a stark ultimatum: surrender or face forceful suppression by state security forces. He announced Colombia's intention to join Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” initiative, aiming to combat drug trafficking. The new president, a wealthy lawyer and political outsider who financed his campaign independently, is known for representing controversial figures and promises a tougher stance on security issues.