Trump anticipates better relationship with Colombia under new leader

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said that de la Espriella had "won easily", even though his lead of 0.96 percentage points in the preliminary count is the narrowest in recent Colombian history. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he was looking forward to working together "to build a powerful relationship". The relationship between the two historic allies had suffered in recent years as Trump traded insults with Colombia's outgoing president, the left-winger Gustavo Petro. Trump had called Petro a "sick man" and a "drug-trafficking leader" without providing any evidence, while Petro had said that the US president was basing his immigration policy on that of the Nazis. Following the US military operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January, Trump had also remarked that a military operation targeting neighbouring Colombia sounded "good". Asked by a Colombian journalist about how he saw the relationship between the US and Colombia developing following Sunday's election, Trump said "it'll be better, he [de la Espriella] is going to be a great president". De la Espriella campaigned on a promise to crack down on drug-trafficking gangs and criminal organisations which have long blighted the country, which is the world's largest producer of coca, the raw material used to make cocaine. He has said that he wants Colombia to join the "Shield of the Americas", an alliance of Latin Americans countries and the US aimed at combating cartels. …