Colombia president‑elect De la Espriella pushes security and energy ties with Guyana and the United States

President‑elect Abelardo De la Espriella has stepped up bilateral cooperation ahead of his 7 August inauguration. In a high‑level phone call with Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation on regional security, hydrocarbons and gas development, positioning Guyana as a strategic partner for Colombia’s energy revival.

The president‑elect also met a senior United States delegation in Barranquilla, where officials from the State Department and the Pentagon discussed reinforced bilateral security cooperation, the fight against organized crime and narcotics, and broader trade ties.

Domestically, De la Espriella announced the creation of a “Block of Defense for Urban Security,” a national security bloc to be decreed on 7 August, and received public backing from the mayors of Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla.

The transition (empalme) process has been formalised, with a schedule that will conclude on 31 July, confirming the start of the new administration’s agenda on security, energy and regional diplomacy.