Colombia's President Declared Total War on Gangs. How's That Going?
Fronts Staff · November 12, 2026 · 16 min video · Americas
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From the transcript
Back when Abelardo del Esperaya won Colombia's presidency on a promise of total war against his country's armed groups, some wrote it off as a bunch of campaign hot air. After all, some of Colombia's insurgents have been around for over 60 years now, and the list of presidential candidates promising and then failing to deal with them is about as long.
As it turns out though, Esperaya was deadly serious.
Three months into the job, he's just launched his first major offensive against the armed groups along the border with Venezuela, who are fighting back. And unlike in decades gone by, this time, those groups have exploding drones.
This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.
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About this briefing
Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella has launched Operation Esparta against armed groups in Catatumbo, deploying troops whilst personally joining urban police raids. Despite arrests and airstrikes, insurgents retaliate with explosive drones. Venezuela's unexpected cooperation against the ELN offers hope, but decades of failed strategies raise questions about lasting peace.
