U.S. pledges $1 billion to Colombia as new right-wing president takes office

The United States pledged $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia after its new right-wing president took office. Abelardo de la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer with a taste for spectacle, took office Friday for his four-year term after a campaign focused on anger and fears about security."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 (Abelardo) de la Espriella's administration in achieving our shared goals," the statement said.De la Espriella earned President Trump's endorsement despite never having run for office. The newly elected president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, speaks during the military recognition ceremony as part of the presidential inauguration day at Batallón Pichincha in Cali, Colombia. Leonardo Castañeda / Getty Images / Leonardo Casta–eda De la Espriella now has grand plans to crush armed insurgents, cozy up to the U.S. and overhaul the system. In his first speech upon taking office, he pledged to "relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism," adding that "the option of dialogue is completely exhausted" — a reference to...