LatinNews Daily - 17 August 2026

Colombia: On 7 August a US delegation led by Attorney General Todd Blanche represented the US government at the inauguration which took place that day in Colombia of far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella. According to a US Department of State (DoS) press release, the delegation demonstrates US commitment to “reinvigorating the U.S.-Colombia relationship and deepening of our shared security and economic partnership”. According to the same DoS statement, as a “cornerstone of this renewed partnership”, the US intends to announce US$1bn in assistance “as part of a security package” to support the De la Espriella administration in “achieving our shared goals”. It adds that President Donald Trump’s administration “looks forward to working closely with the new administration to ensure security and prosperity for the United States, Colombia, and our hemisphere”. It also “welcomes” Colombia in joining the US-led Shield of the Americas security alliance, launched by Trump in March this year, and announced plans to help “strengthen Colombia’s security forces in our shared fight against Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO)s and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO)s, including through deploying unmatched U.S. technology, scoping defense spending to be more efficient, building interoperability, and executing coordinated operations with U.S. forces.” In the economic sphere the DoS said the US would work with Colombia to “contribute to international relief funds and future humanitarian aid packages that help Colombian communities recover from potential El Niño-related flooding, drought, and other natural disasters” as well as launching “a Bilateral Prosperity Dialogue to serve as a platform for stabilizing Colombia’s economy, strengthening its energy generation and distribution sectors, exploring critical mineral investments, and creating new opportunities for U.S. investors”, among other things. Following the devastating earthquake which struck Colombia on 10 August, the US has also announced US$26.5m in funding for “humanitarian food, health, protection and shelter assistance, in addition to post-earthquake structural assessments”.

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