Summary Trump has moved to increase U.S. presence and influence in Latin America
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Friday that President Donald Trump's administration plans to provide $1 billion in security assistance to the government of Colombia's new right-wing President Abelardo De La Espriella.
"As a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, the United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President De La Espriella's Administration in achieving our shared goals," the State Department said in a statement.
Colombia's new president, who has promised a crackdown on crime and an economic revival, was sworn in on Friday.
Trump had endorsed him during the elections.
The State Department said the Trump administration welcomed Colombia into the "Shield of the Americas," a Trump-created military alliance of right-wing leaders pledging to fight drug trafficking.
Trump has moved to increase U.S. presence and influence in Latin America.
He ordered the seizure of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid and the U.S. military has carried out multiple strikes on boats in the Caribbean that have killed dozens.
Rights advocates, both in the U.S. and around the world, say such actions are illegal, imperial and amount to extrajudicial killings.
Trump casts them as attempts to counter drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
Trump had publicly feuded with former President Gustavo Petro, a former rebel and Colombia's first leftist president, over a range of issues.
Petro had accused Trump of being "complicit in genocide" over U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza and called for "criminal proceedings" over American attacks on boats in Caribbean waters.
He had also criticized Trump's endorsement of De La Espriella during the elections.
