Colombian president dismantles 'Total Peace' policy, shuts down all peace talks

Colombia’s president on Friday formally shut down all peace negotiations with illegal armed groups, fulfilling a core campaign promise to dismantle his predecessor's "Total Peace" strategy.

Signing executive resolutions revoking the credentials of all government representatives and negotiators, Abelardo De La Espriella declared an end to dialogue mechanisms established under former President Gustavo Petro.

The order terminates negotiating tables involving the National Liberation Army (ELN), FARC dissident factions, the Clan del Golfo cartel, and other urban criminal gangs operating in Medellin, Buenaventura, and Quibdo.

"The government declares an end to the dialogue processes, the socio-legal forums, and the ‘false peace’,” according to a statement from the presidency. De La Espriella declared that his government will not offer political recognition nor judicial leniency to illegal combatants.

The newly elected president criticized the previous administration's approach, saying that more than 7 billion Colombian pesos ($1.7 million) from the public budget were spent exclusively on fees for spokespersons, representatives, and facilitators assigned to the talks.

The figure excludes additional state funds spent on security details, travel allowances, designated assembly zones, and operational logistics needed to sustain the dialogue forums, according to the president.

De La Espriella argued that the negotiations failed to weaken illegal groups, allowing them to instead strengthen their operations, challenge state authority, and continue targeting civilians and security forces.

Emphasizing that his administration will not permit peace talks to be used as a cover for criminal operations, procedural benefits, or impunity, the president outlined two options for illegal armed groups – voluntary submission to the justice system or direct military confrontation.

"Those who express a genuine willingness to lay down their arms must submit to the justice system; those who persist in committing acts of violence against the civilian population will be confronted with the full legal and legitimate capacity of the public security forces," he said.

Barely a month after taking office, the country’s new administration has shifted the national security strategy away from negotiated settlements and back toward hardline law enforcement and heightened military operations.