Colombia President Abelardo de la Espriella took office in August and kept a campaign pledge by staying in the country, so Vice President José Manuel Restrepo delivered his remarks to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

The address sought a worldwide legal definition of terrorism, firm steps against those who carry it out, and an end to uneven human rights enforcement. It faulted the United Nations for inefficiency and rejected any global approach that treats national sovereignty, identity, and traditions as barriers to imposed uniformity, while backing cooperation among distinct countries.

The tone differed from former President Gustavo Petro’s 2025 appearance, which lasted 40 minutes and included a call to arrest Donald Trump, support for cocaine use, and comments on the appearance of drug traffickers. De la Espriella defeated Petro’s chosen successor Iván Cepeda in the 2026 election, placing Colombia among other Latin American governments that criticized the United Nations and stressed national priorities.