Conservative Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia's president Friday under heavy security in Cali, a city in the country's volatile southwest, breaking with the tradition of holding the ceremony in the capital, in a move meant to signal his hard-line approach to illegal armed groups. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
During his inauguration speech, de la Espriella pledged to revive the country's oil and gas sector, restore state-owned energy company Ecopetrol and strengthen the electricity system, arguing that energy security would be a cornerstone of his administration.
He said Colombia would pursue an energy transition — a shift away from oil, gas and coal toward cleaner energy sources such as wind and solar power — but insisted it must not come at the expense of the country's oil and gas industry.
"I believe in the energy transition," he said. "But that transition must be built from strength, not from weakness, from self-sufficiency and not from dependence."
The remarks reinforce a sharp shift from former President Gustavo Petro, who stopped awarding new oil and gas exploration contracts while pushing Colombia toward renewable energy and making protection of the Amazon a centerpiece of his environmental agenda. Just four months ago, Petro's government hosted an international summit in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta aimed at transitioning away from fossil fuels.
The new president's stance signals a significant change in Colombia's energy policy, with potential implications for the economy and international relations. The inauguration in Cali, rather than the capital, underscores his focus on security and regional issues.