Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella Ends Peace Processes and Shifts to Hardline Security Policy

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has officially terminated peace processes with several illegal armed groups, marking a sharp departure from the 'Total Peace' policy of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. Through nine resolutions, the president ceased conversations with the State Mayor of Blocks and Fronts (Embf), the National Bolivarian Army Coordinator (Cneb), and the Conquistador Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (Acsn). De la Espriella stated that these groups lacked a verifiable will for peace or a serious commitment to justice, asserting that dialogue tables must not serve as refuges for criminality or excuses for impunity.

As part of this new security strategy, the administration intends to classify all armed groups as terrorist organizations regardless of whether they are guerrilla or criminal entities. Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara announced a proposed antiterrorism statute for Congress that would create a specific legal framework for groups labeled as narcoterrorists, specifically mentioning the ELN and FARC dissidents. The president has also prioritized cooperation with the United States, signing over 30 extraditions in his first 16 days in office, including five leaders who had previously been protected from extradition while participating in peace talks.

Military operations have resumed, including a recent attack in the southwest of the country that killed a FARC dissident commander known as Felipe or Arcadio. De la Espriella warned that criminals who do not surrender will end up in body bags. This shift has received support from some sectors, such as Olguín Mayorga of the National Association of Victims, who argued that the previous government's policies led to increased violence and displacement in the Catatumbo region. According to association data, over 140,000 people were displaced over the last 19 months amid a rise in kidnappings and drone attacks.