Amazon's Future Decided
Colombian Presidential Election To Determine Amazon's Fate and Fossil Fuel Policy
Anonymous
Colombia is heading toward a high-stakes presidential runoff on June 21, 2026, with the future of the Amazon rainforest hanging in the balance. Right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella won the first round on May 31 with 43.7% of the vote — roughly 9.5 million ballots — beating left-wing senator Iván Cepeda, who drew 40.9%, according to AP News.
The race has quickly drawn global attention. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a "complete and total endorsement" of De la Espriella on June 3, calling Cepeda a "Radical Left Marxist." The two candidates represent starkly different visions: one would open Colombia's Amazon to oil drilling and fracking; the other would accelerate a green energy transition and protect Indigenous land rights.
Two Candidates, Two Opposite Visions for Colombia
De la Espriella, nicknamed "El Tigre," is a criminal defense lawyer with no prior government experience. He has promised an "iron-fist" security crackdown and a revival of Colombia's oil and gas economy. He pledged to legalize fracking and reopen exploration contracts in the Amazon basin. He also plans to build ten new "mega-prisons" and legalize civilian firearm ownership, according to AP News.
Cepeda is a veteran human rights senator running on a platform of peace and green energy. His 433-page plan, called "The Power of the Truth," lays out an "ambitious road map" for environmental protection, zero deforestation, and stronger Indigenous territorial rights. A Cepeda win would largely continue the policies of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first-ever leftist head of state.
Trump's Endorsement Fuels Sovereignty Debate
Trump's Truth Social post on June 3 called De la Espriella a "Smart, Strong, and Tough Leader" who will protect "private property and free enterprise." Two days later, De la Espriella responded by pledging to join Trump's "Shield of the Americas" — a multinational military coalition targeting drug cartels that Colombia's current government was notably excluded from, according to AP News.
The endorsement sparked immediate backlash inside Colombia. Outgoing President Petro called it an attack on national sovereignty, saying "any interference by one country over another is an attempt against freedom," according to AP News. Analysts warn a De la Espriella government could allow U.S. military assets on Colombian soil — a major shift in the country's foreign policy.
Amazon at Risk as Colombia's Oil Reserves Run Dry
The environmental stakes could not be higher. Colombia's oil reserves are projected to last only 7.2 more years, and natural gas just 5.9 years. That shrinking window is pushing industry groups to demand new exploration rights. The country's power sector holds an estimated $57 billion in potential projects, many stalled under Petro's freeze on new fossil fuel contracts, according to AP News.
Environmental groups say a De la Espriella presidency would be a "tipping point" for the Amazon rainforest. Illegal mining and mercury contamination are already spreading in the region, according to NH Register. A Cepeda win, by contrast, would likely deepen international climate agreements and expand protections for Indigenous communities whose territories overlap with oil-rich land.
Security Crisis and Election Integrity Cloud the Runoff
The election follows a period of intense political violence. In August 2025, conservative pre-candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay died after being shot at a campaign rally in Bogotá, reviving fears of the political assassinations that plagued Colombia in the 1980s. That security breakdown helped fuel De la Espriella's populist surge, according to AP News.
After the first-round results came in, both Petro and Cepeda alleged discrepancies in the vote-counting software, casting doubt on the process. The central government is also running a fiscal deficit of 6.4% of GDP as of 2025, adding economic pressure on whoever takes office. The runoff is set for June 21, with Colombia — and the Amazon — watching closely, according to AP News.
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