The election of conservative firebrand Abelardo de la Espriella as president of Colombia marks more than a political upset in one of Latin America's most troubled nations.
It is the latest chapter in a sweeping pro-Trump ideological realignment that is transforming the Western Hemisphere.
With de la Espriella's victory over left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda and the departure of outgoing socialist President Gustavo Petro, Colombia becomes the eighth Latin American nation in seven years to shift from leftist leadership to a decidedly Trump-friendly, right-of-center government.
The Colombian result comes just days after Peru completed a painstaking recount confirming the election of conservative Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori.
Together, the elections in Colombia and Peru represent the newest victories in a growing regional movement that has embraced many of the themes associated with President Donald Trump: law and order, economic nationalism, border security, anti-socialism, and resistance to entrenched political establishments.
In many respects, Trump is emerging as a modern-day hemispheric figure whose influence increasingly extends far beyond America's borders.
Some supporters increasingly see him as a political force comparable to Simón Bolívar — a Latin leader whose ideas reshaped the political direction of multiple nations throughout the Americas.
Colombia's Turn to Law and Order
A millionaire trial lawyer who openly cites Trump, former President Ronald Reagan, and former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher among his political heroes, de la Espriella campaigned on restoring security to a nation battered by narcotics trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime.
Where Petro pursued negotiations with armed groups and criminal organizations, de la Espriella promised a policy of mano dura — the iron fist.
He pledged an aggressive crackdown on cartels and terrorist organizations while rebuilding Colombia's security apparatus.
The contrast with Petro extended to foreign policy. While the outgoing president frequently clashed with Trump over trade, immigration, and diplomatic issues, de la Espriella has pledged close cooperation with Washington and the Trump administration.
The Colombian election followed closely behind Peru's election of Keiko Fujimori, whose narrow victory was confirmed after a complete vote count.
Like de la Espriella, Fujimori campaigned on public security, economic growth, and a tougher stance against criminal organizations.
Her victory adds another major South American nation to the expanding bloc of governments moving away from the socialist and populist left.
The pro-Trump trend began in 2019 with the election of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador and has accelerated steadily ever since.
Here is the breakdown detailing Trump's 8 triumphs:
El Salvador — Nayib Bukele (2019): Elected on a law-and-order platform, Bukele dramatically reduced gang violence through aggressive policing and mass incarceration.
Argentina — Javier Milei (2023): The world's first openly libertarian president launched sweeping reductions in government spending, eliminated ministries, and pursued free-market reforms.
Ecuador — Daniel Noboa (2023): A fiscal conservative who has emphasized economic reform, security, and cooperation with the United States.
Honduras — Nasry "Tito" Asfura: The former mayor of Tegucigalpa succeeded the anti-American administration of Xiomara Castro while promising lower taxes and reduced government spending. A Trump endorsement clinched Asfura's win.
Bolivia — Rodrigo Paz (2025): Ending two decades of dominance by the socialist Movement for Socialism, Paz won on a platform of free enterprise and "Capitalism for All."
Chile — José Antonio Kast (2026): The conservative Catholic father of nine defeated socialist forces on a platform centered on law and order, economic freedom, and traditional values.
Peru — Keiko Fujimori (2026): The recent addition to the regional conservative resurgence.
Colombia — Abelardo de la Espriella (2026): The newest and perhaps most significant victory given Colombia's strategic importance in the fight against drug trafficking.
The Shield of the Americas
Most of these eight leaders have aligned themselves with Trump's newly established hemispheric initiative, the Shield of the Americas.
The Shield is a regional security partnership focused on combating drug cartels, organized crime, human trafficking, and mass illegal migration through intelligence sharing and coordinated action.
Both Fujimori and de la Espriella are expected to join the organization after taking office, further consolidating the emerging bloc.
But 4 Major Challenges Remain
Despite the momentum, the conservative resurgence remains incomplete.
1) Venezuela remains the largest unanswered question.
Despite a major Trump administration win, the Maduro regime continues to hold power through his once vice president, Delcy Rodriguez.
While Rodriguez has aligned herself with the U.S. for the moment, only by setting a date for genuinely free and fair elections will Venezuela join the roster of nations on the right path.
Failure to set a date for a democratic election also will have implications in the U.S. as Venezuelan-American and Cuban-American voters express their dissatisfaction in key congressional elections and in Florida's gubernatorial race this year.
2) Cuba presents a different challenge.
Despite worsening economic conditions and periodic unrest, the communist regime has proven more resilient than many observers anticipated.
Whether Cuba ultimately follows the regional movement remains uncertain.
3) Nicaragua has become one of the most repressive governments in the Western Hemisphere.
Under Daniel Ortega, political opposition, religious institutions, journalists, and civil society organizations have faced relentless crackdowns.
Increasingly, critics describe Nicaragua as becoming a new Cuba in Central America.
4) Next Major Test: Brazil
Attention is now turning toward Brazil, Latin America's largest nation and the region's political heavyweight.
The upcoming presidential election could become the most consequential contest in the hemisphere.
Supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro are rallying behind his son as they seek to unseat leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The election is already generating intense debate over the integrity of Brazil's electoral system and whether the contest will be conducted in a manner viewed by all sides as free and fair.
Should Brazil ultimately join the growing list of countries moving rightward, the political map of Latin America would look dramatically different than it did only a decade ago.
For now, however, the victories in Colombia and Peru represent the latest evidence that a powerful political current is moving across the hemisphere — one increasingly influenced by the ideas, priorities, and politics of President Donald J. Trump.
Trump is truly making the Americas great again.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.