# Colombia’s De la Espriella Ends Petro’s ‘Total Peace’ Talks With Armed Groups

*Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 4:06 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-09-12T04:06:32.751Z (1h ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Latin America
**Importance**: 7/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/17567.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Justice Minister Abelardo de la Espriella has announced the end of President Gustavo Petro’s ‘Total Peace’ policy, halting broad talks with armed groups that underpinned local ceasefires across Colombia.

Colombia is preparing for a sharp change in its security strategy after Justice Minister Abelardo de la Espriella said he is ending President Gustavo Petro’s ‘Total Peace’ policy and bringing broad negotiations with armed groups to a close.

The initiative had aimed to open dialogue with a range of guerrilla, dissident, and criminal organizations at the same time, creating a patchwork of ceasefires and local understandings in parts of the country. Supporters argued that even partial truces reduced clashes and abuses in remote regions. Critics said the approach allowed armed groups to consolidate control while formal peace talks moved slowly.

By shutting down the ‘Total Peace’ framework, the government is signaling that those parallel talks will be halted or sharply curtailed. In areas where communities had seen fewer clashes, fewer roadblocks, or some limits on kidnappings and recruitment under informal or partial arrangements, there’s now uncertainty over how armed actors will respond.

De la Espriella and other opponents of Petro’s strategy argue that negotiating broadly with multiple armed groups, while curbing offensive operations, weakened state authority and rewarded those using violence. They say any future talks should be narrower and more conditional, with more emphasis on security operations.

The shift points toward a more force-heavy approach after a period when negotiations and ceasefires were central to policy. That may reassure sectors that favor a tougher line and worry about rising crime, but it risks prompting some groups to harden their positions or escalate if they conclude the chance for a negotiated path is closing.

The main developments to watch now are which specific negotiation protocols the government formally cancels, how quickly security forces change their posture in zones that had partial ceasefires, and whether indicators such as displacement, killings, extortion, and kidnappings start to climb again. The reactions of international actors that backed Petro’s talks will also shape how isolated or supported Bogotá feels as it pivots away from ‘Total Peace.’