Colombia leadership change August 2026
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Colombia's new president loosens gun control rules
The decree lifts a suspension on carrying legal firearms in public that had been in force for a decade.
The restriction on carrying legal guns in public was introduced by then-President Juan Manuel Santos in December 2015.
De la Espriella said forces had seized more than 15,000 firearms so far this year.
Colombia's new president faces backlash over 'inhumane' deportation policy
The deportation operation will begin with a pilot programme in Barranquilla, which is home to an estimated 182,000 Venezuelans.
Juan Carlos Viloria Doria, vice president of Venezuelans in Barranquilla, said irregular immigration status and criminality are two completely different things.
Congresswoman Maria del Mar Pizarro said that persecuting and deporting someone because their immigration status is not in order is populism, not security.
“De la Espriella is bold enough to target migrants from Latin American countries in Colombia, yet cowardly when it comes to protecting our fellow migrants in the United States,”
Former Colombian president criticizes restoration of diplomatic ties with Israel
Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro said that restoring ties with Israel while Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power applauds the Gaza genocide.
Colombia's new right-wing government restored diplomatic relations with Israel two years after Petro had severed them.
De la Espriella sworn in as Colombia's leader
The US State Department said the Trump administration plans to provide $1 billion in security assistance to de la Espriella, pending approval from the US Congress.
Petro's vote fraud claim was dismissed by international observers and Colombia's electoral authorities.
De la Espriella is known to supporters as 'El Tigre'.
“As a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, the United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President de la Espriella’s Administration in achieving our shared goals,”