Latin America, the U.S., and a New Hemispheric Vision

Leading candidate Abelardo de la Espriella

As Colombia nears a momentous election decision on May 31, conservative Abelardo de la Espriella vaults to the lead in polling and prediction markets. Known as “The Tiger,” he channels much of the energy and philosophy of another Latin American populist-right renegade, Javier Milei, who similarly uses lion imagery and themes in his campaigns.

De la Espriella faces Ivan Cepeda, a committed leftist who openly disdains the United States and has been anointed by incumbent President Gustavo Petro as the new standard-bearer of Colombia’s Left. Cepeda accused the U.S. of leading the “international neofascist far right” after President Donald Trump ordered the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro , who now awaits trial in New York on drug trafficking charges.

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But Colombians see matters very differently. Regarding the daring U.S. Special Forces operation to arrest and remove Maduro, 65% of Colombians approved, while only 24% disapproved of the American action. Colombian voters understand that a ruthless dictator next door poses enormous risks to their nation, including millions of refugees fleeing Venezuelan deprivation and straining Colombia’s already scarce resources.

Beyond that single military action, Colombians overwhelmingly favor closer ties with the U.S. Polling shows that 73% believe their country should grow “closer” to America , yet only 25% currently describe bilateral relations as “positive.”

Perhaps that disconnect explains another striking divide in opinion polls of Colombians: Petro has a negative net approval of nine percentage points, while Trump receives a nine-percentage-point positive net approval rating.

Colombians are tiring of the corruption and anti-American radicalism of the current regime and increasingly yearn for a return to stability, prosperity, and strong relations with the U.S.

Colombians also recognize that closer U.S. ties would help combat the resurgence of violent drug cartels, which have regained tremendous power under Petro’s presidency. Allegations of Petro-Cepeda accommodation toward these criminal organizations have spread widely throughout the country, as cartel violence once again terrorizes Colombian society in ways unseen for decades.

More broadly, the rise of “The Tiger” draws momentum from the broader resurgence of conservatism across Latin America. Recent electoral victories for the Right in Costa Rica, Honduras, Bolivia, and Chile have reshaped the region’s political landscape. Those new governments join existing conservative leaders such as Milei in Argentina, Santiago Peña in Paraguay, and Nayib Bukele in El Salvador to form a growing alliance of like-minded nations throughout the hemisphere.

Indeed, the Trump administration outlined plans for such a hemispheric alliance in its National Security Strategy memorandum released last fall. The document made clear that the U.S. intends to pursue a renewed interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine—one that rejects hostile foreign intervention in the Americas while building stronger commercial, political, and military ties across the hemisphere.

That renewed focus naturally aligns with leaders who share similar philosophical commitments, including the rising Colombian star Abelardo de la Espriella. Such energy is badly needed at this moment.

Tragically, Europe—the historical cradle of Western civilization—continues to drift toward secularism, multicultural relativism, and societies overwhelmed by mass migration. It therefore falls increasingly to the New World to preserve and advance the foundations of Western civilization. From Tierra del Fuego to the U.S., current political trends suggest that this emerging hemispheric vision may well define the future.

Steve Cortes is president of the League of American Workers and advisor to Catholic Vote.

He directs political campaigns on media, polling, and Hispanic outreach, including Trump 2016/2020 and Vance 2022 US Senate.

He is a former broadcaster for Fox News and CNN.

This column was posted by Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/29/colombia-new-hemispheric-vision/

Cortes Investigates is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.