President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella announced he will reactivate aerial fumigation and bombings to combat illicit crops and armed groups in Colombia.
This shift represents a fundamental reversal of the previous administration's security strategy. By dismantling the existing peace framework, De la Espriella intends to move from a negotiation-based approach to a military-led offensive against insurgent forces.
Speaking from Antioquia during the commemoration of Colombia's Independence Day on July 20, De la Espriella detailed a multi-pronged security overhaul [1, 2]. He said that the government will reactivate all outstanding arrest warrants against members of armed groups [3].
"Su tiempo se acabó," De la Espriella said regarding the armed groups [3].
The president-elect also confirmed the return of aerial spraying to eliminate illicit crops and the use of bombings against strategic targets [1, 2]. These measures are designed to disrupt the financial and operational capabilities of narcotics traffickers and guerrillas.
Beyond security, De la Espriella pledged to prioritize major infrastructure projects. He specifically highlighted the promotion of works such as the Túnel del Toyo to improve regional connectivity [1, 2].
The most significant policy shift involves the formal termination of the "paz total," or total peace policy. De la Espriella said the primary mechanisms of this policy will be derogated starting Aug. 7, 2026 [4, 5].
This timeline aligns with the official transition of power, signaling an immediate end to the ceasefire agreements and negotiation tables established by the prior government [4, 5].
“"Su tiempo se acabó"”
The transition from 'Total Peace' to a hardline security stance marks a return to the 'Democratic Security' era of Colombian governance. By prioritizing aerial fumigation and the reactivation of arrest warrants, the incoming administration is signaling that the window for negotiated surrenders is closing. This approach may increase short-term military confrontations but aims to restore state authority in territories previously ceded to armed groups during peace talks.
