From 'The Lion' to 'The Tiger': Conservative Trump allies gain ground in Latin America

By — Manuel Rueda, Associated Press Manuel Rueda, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/from-the-lion-to-the-tiger-conservative-trump-allies-gain-ground-in-latin-america Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter From 'The Lion' to 'The Tiger': Conservative Trump allies gain ground in Latin America World Jun 25, 2026 1:07 PM EDT BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Trump-endorsed outsider Abelardo de la Espriella will take the reins as Colombia's president in August, making the South American nation the latest country in Latin America to have chosen more conservative leadership. READ MORE: Progressive candidate concedes Colombian presidential election to outsider endorsed by Trump De la Espriella campaigned on a tough-on-crime approach, which includes proposals like canceling peace talks with Colombian rebel groups and building mega prisons, like those in El Salvador. He was endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump who described the lawyer and business owner, nicknamed "The Tiger," as the candidate who could restore law and order in Colombia. Here is a look at the Latin American countries that have elected conservative presidents in recent years: Argentina chooses libertarian to tackle inflation Javier Milei, an economist and television commentator nicknamed "The Lion," won Argentina's presidential election in November 2023 by promising to slash government spending and tackle the South American nation's decades-long inflation problem. The libertarian defeated the ruling Peronist movement. During his tenure, Milei has stopped the nation's central bank from printing money to finance the government deficit and has cut government spending by firing civil servants and halting investment in public infrastructure programs, while reducing subsidies for public utility bills. Argentina's inflation has fallen from 211% in 2023 to 32% in 2025. However some have blamed Milei's austerity policies for decreasing the living standards of many Argentines, including public sector workers. Ecuador reelects leader that favors military Daniel Noboa, a member of one of Ecuador's wealthiest families, was reelected to a four- year term in April 2025, winning the election with 56% of the vote. The conservative leader has given the military a more prominent role in providing security in coastal cities overrun by drug gangs fighting over the control of ports and drug trafficking routes. READ MORE: José Antonio Kast sworn in as Chile's president, in sharpest shift to the right since Pinochet But the strategy has not substantially reduced homicide rates. The government also has been criticized for human rights abuses, such as extrajudicial executions. Under Noboa's watch, Ecuador's military has started to conduct joint operations against drug traffickers with the U.S. Noboa also pushed for the reopening of a U.S. military base in Ecuador, but the proposal was struck down in a referendum last year. Hon