CALI, Colombia — Abelardo de la Espriella took office as Colombia's president Friday, Aug. 7, choosing the volatile southwestern city of Cali over the traditional capital as the site of his inauguration — a deliberate break with convention and a signal of his security priorities.
De la Espriella, a conservative lawyer, promised to wage war on drug-running guerrillas and deploy greater military force against rebel groups operating across the country.
His agenda includes strengthening ties with the United States, a shift in diplomatic orientation for the South American nation.
Economically, de la Espriella pledged to cut government spending to reduce the national budget deficit, which doubled under outgoing President Gustavo Petro.
Security, drug trafficking and fiscal discipline were central pillars of his campaign, and his administration opens with a declared intent to challenge the powerful armed groups that have long operated beyond the state's reach.
