A car bomb has exploded in southwest Colombia, a day after conservative Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as the country's new president pledging to strengthen security.

Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s President after narrowly defeating leftist rival Ivan Cepeda in the June runoff. He has pledged tougher action against armed groups, smaller government and revival of the oil and gas sector.

Abelardo de la Espriella, an outspoken conservative who has been praised by President Trump, has promised to confront rebel groups in Colombia with greater military force while cutting government spending to reduce a budget deficit that doubled under outgoing President Gustavo Petro.

Abelardo de la Espriella used his maiden speech to promise an "all-out war" on what he calls "narco-terrorism".

Abelardo de la Espriella will be sworn in as Colombia's president Friday in Cali, breaking tradition by not holding the ceremony in Bogota.

The U.S. State Department said Friday that the United States plans to give $1 billion to the new government of Colombia, which Trump endorsed.

Colombian authorities intercepted a bus rigged with explosives in the country’s southwest on Wednesday, underscoring security concerns ahead of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.

Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, has accused outgoing leader Gustavo Petro and leftist opposition groups of deliberately