Abelardo de la Espriella’s presidential victory backed by US and Latin American ‘Escudo de las Américas’

A coalition of right‑wing governments called the "Escudo de las Américas", including the United States and countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, El Salvador, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago, issued a joint statement urging Colombian authorities to respect the official election result that declared Abelardo de la Espriella president‑elect. The statement called for strict adherence to the constitution, the law and democratic principles and for a peaceful, orderly transition.

Former president Gustavo Petro rejected the outcome, alleging fraud and manipulation of overseas votes without presenting evidence, and criticised the National Electoral Council. The coalition condemned any attempt to delegitimize the vote, describing it as a serious affront to the popular will. De la Espriella said his government will join the "Escudo de las Américas" initiative, originally created at a summit hosted by Donald Trump to combat drug cartels.

"Hacemos un llamado firme a todas las autoridades colombianas para que actúen con estricto apego a la Constitución, la ley y los principios democráticos", the statement read. "Rechazamos toda acción, declaración o decisión que pretenda deslegitimar el mandato conferido por la ciudadanía, desacreditar sin fundamento a las autoridades electorales competentes u obstaculizar la transición institucional."