State Department Pledges $1 Billion in Security Aid to Colombia Hours After a New President Is Sworn In

The State Department pledged $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia on Aug. 7, hours after Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as president, according to BBC News. In his first speech de la Espriella promised an all-out war on drug cartels, a stronger military partnership with the United States, and Colombian participation in Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” security initiative.

Announcing a commitment of that size on inauguration day ties it to a change of government and to the incoming president’s stated alignment with U.S. regional security policy. A pledge made before the new administration has submitted plans, and before either country’s legislature has weighed in, narrows the room to attach conditions later.

The pledge is an announcement rather than an obligation of appropriated funds. No disbursement schedule or breakdown of what the assistance covers has been published.