President Gustavo Petro has issued a direct order forbidding all units of Colombia’s armed forces and police from undertaking any logistical preparations for the inauguration of his successor, Abelardo de la Espriella, as long as he remains commander-in-chief. The directive, delivered during the symbolic return of Simón Bolívar’s sword to a Bogotá museum, states that no military installation may ready “a single chair” for the ceremony. It targets the president-elect’s plan to be sworn in at a garrison in the south-western department of Cauca, a choice De la Espriella’s team frames as a restoration of state authority in a historically conflict-ridden region. Petro counters that civilian investitures must take place “before the people, not before arms,” and has warned that holding the event in a military setting would constitute an “affront to democracy.”

According to the outgoing government, the decision flows from a broader conviction that the incoming administration represents a surrender of Colombian sovereignty. Petro has repeatedly claimed that De la Espriella, who holds a second US citizenship, “obeys directly the US State Department,” and argues that his narrow election—49.7% of votes—was the result of interference from Washington. In congressional testimony and public addresses, officials close to the president have asserted that the move to a garrison symbolises a militarisation of civic life. For their part, legislators allied with De la Espriella secured Senate approval to transfer the Congress to Cauca for the swearing-in, insisting that the location sends a message of resolve against illegal armed groups. The proposal still requires endorsement by the lower chamber.

The dispute intensifies an already turbulent transition. Petro, who does not formally recognise the election results, has refused to participate in a traditional handover ceremony or to shake his successor’s hand. His administration ends amid a mass exodus of ministers: nine government departments lack permanent heads, and the president’s final weeks have been dominated by the logistics of his own departure, including the return of the sword of the Liberator. At the same time, he has cautioned that firearms are being smuggled from Ecuador into Cauca, pleading with social movements to stay home to avoid providing a pretext for violence. Regional analysts note that this volatility risks eroding public confidence in the very institutions that should guarantee a peaceful transition.

Viewed from Washington, the rift illustrates the limits of a once-steady bilateral relationship now rattled by ideological friction. The Trump administration has openly supported De la Espriella, whom US officials describe as a reliable partner for security and counternarcotics cooperation. By contrast, Petro’s tenure saw persistent clashes over trade, climate policy and anti-drug strategies. As the 7 August transfer date nears, attention turns to the Constitutional Court and whether it will clarify the outgoing president’s authority over military assets. For now, Colombian institutions are caught between a lame-duck executive who still commands the armed forces and an incoming president who seeks to use them as the backdrop for his political message. The lower house vote on the relocation and any legal challenges that follow will determine whether the inauguration proceeds in a garrison, in Bogotá, or in an improvised compromise.