Rightist leaders congratulate Colombian President-elect

Published 22 June 2026 · politics

Rightist leaders from across the Americas congratulated Colombia's hard-right President-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, on Sunday (June 22, 2026) after he defeated his leftist rival

Rightist leaders from across the Americas congratulated Colombia's hard-right President-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, on Sunday (June 22, 2026) after he defeated his leftist rival in a razor-tight vote. With almost all the votes counted, De la Espriella held 49.66% of the ballots versus Senator Ivan Cepeda's 48.70%. The 47-year-old's victory is set to improve strained relations with Washington and extend a wave of rightist candidates who have swept to power across Latin America promising "iron fist" security policies. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed "his support" for De la Espriella after celebrating his victory in a phone call, the President-elect said. Trump later said in a post on Truth Social that "He Won, BIG!" Argentine President Javier Milei was one of the first to congratulate De la Espriella, who calls himself "The Tiger." "The majority of Colombians have chosen the path of economic freedom, prosperity, and relentless security," said Mr. Milei, who is nicknamed "The Lion." "Freedom is advancing throughout Latin America and there is no turning back.

LONG LIVE FREEDOM... THE LION AND THE TIGER ROAR IN LATIN AMERICA," he said on X. EL LEÓN Y EL TIGRE RUGEN EN LATINOAMÉRICA...!!! Felicito enormemente a @ABDELAESPRIELLA por su histórica victoria en Colombia. Hoy la mayoría de los colombianos eligieron el camino de la libertad económica, la prosperidad, la seguridad implacable y decirle BASTA al crimen… Javier Milei (@JMilei) June 21, 2026 Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa said, "Colombia chose order over impunity." "We share the conviction that our region deserves security, progress, and governments that confront crime without excuses," he said on X. Noboa has criticised outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro's stance on crime, accusing him of failing to crack down on drug trafficking and illegal mining along their shared border.

Hoy Colombia eligió el orden sobre la impunidad. Felicitaciones a @ABDELAESPRIELLA por esta victoria. Compartimos la convicción que nuestra región merece seguridad, progreso y gobiernos que enfrenten al crimen sin excusas. — Daniel Noboa Azin (@DanielNoboaOk) June 21, 2026 Chile's President Jose Antonio Kast also congratulated De la Espriella "for his great electoral victory," while Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino wished him "the greatest success." Venezuelan Opposition leader and Nobel Peace laureate Maria Corina Machado said she expected good relations with Colombia. "We know we will have a great ally in Venezuela's democratic transition and that together, we will achieve prosperity and security for our people," she said.