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De la Espriella Vows 90-Day Anti-Drug Air Offensive, Cites ELN Threat

The hard-line pledge lands in a volatile campaign where polls show a technical tie with leftist rival Iván Cepeda.

Overview

  • He says he would launch immediate bombings of alleged narcoterrorist camps and resume fumigation of coca crops, without ruling out the use of U.S. warplanes.
  • He frames the plan around a strategic partnership with the United States and Israel and promises to equip security forces with advanced weapons, artificial intelligence tools, drones, and increased funding.
  • The right-wing candidate, who calls himself “El Tigre,” leads the Defensores de la Patria movement and positions himself as an outsider to dislodge the left from power.
  • He reported receiving an anonymous warning that the ELN had designated him a military target, a claim the guerrilla group has not publicly confirmed, as authorities review his security protections.
  • The proposals unfold in a campaign marked by attacks and threats, with Colombia still the world’s top cocaine producer after faltering peace efforts under President Gustavo Petro and elections set for March 8 and May 31.