Colombia's new right-wing President Abelardo De La Espriella has been sworn in, using his inaugural speech to pledge a vigorous fight against drug trafficking and austerity measures to restore confidence in the economy.
Mr De La Espriella, 48, won June's runoff on promises to crack down on armed groups, shrink the state by as much as 40% and revive the oil and gas sector.
An ally of US President Donald Trump, he represented well-known right-wing paramilitaries during his time as a lawyer.
Mr De La Espriella has never before held elected office.
"I have come to close a long chapter of national resignation and, together with the people, embark on the most profound transformation of our destiny," Mr De La Espriella said at the Pichincha Battalion military base in Cali, after being sworn in at a nearby university auditorium with dignitaries and officials.
Speaking to assembled troops at the base during a 75-minute speech, he pledged to "relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism".
He said: "I send a firm message to the Colombian people: the time has come to restore order, authority, and freedom.
"Members of criminal gangs and narco-terrorist groups have two choices: submit to the rule of law or face the determined response of the Colombian state and its security forces."
He added the option of peace talks with armed groups had been "completely exhausted".
"The time has come to definitively eradicate the scourge of illicit crops," Mr De La Espriella said, adding he would use aerial spraying of herbicides that do not harm human health or the environment to destroy coca.
In one of his first acts as president, he said Colombia will join US President Donald Trump's regional anti-cartel alliance known as Shield of the Americas.
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Who is Colombia's self-proclaimed 'Tiger' president?
Mr De la Espriella, who holds dual US and Colombian citizenship, has offered to host US troops on Colombian soil and wants to bomb jungle cocaine labs, build "mega-prisons" and slash the size of the state.
He also pledged to freeze public spending and pursue a tax reform to simplify the country's payment regimen and boost investment and employment, while preserving popular social programmes, some put in place by former president Gustavo Petro.
Mr De La Espriella said: "I want to tell Colombia's business leaders, large, medium-sized and small, that this government will be your partner in investing in Colombia.
"Once again, it will be a safe and profitable decision for you."
In a break with tradition, his inauguration took place in Cali, Colombia's salsa capital, not at Congress in more buttoned-down Bogota.
Among the guests were FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, who faces scathing criticism over his now-shelved plan to open the World Cup and other competitions up to private investment.
Right-wing figures also attended, including Argentina's President Javier Milei and Todd Blanche, Mr Trump's acting attorney general, who headed the US delegation.
Mr De la Espriella's leftist predecessor, Mr Petro, declined to attend the ceremony.
He earlier left the presidential residence in the capital, bidding "farewell, freedom and life".
Cali has suffered several guerrilla attacks in recent years and the city saw beefed-up security for the occasion, including 11,000 troops and an anti-drone system.
Mr De la Espriella's narrow victory of less than 1 percentage point ended four years of Colombia's first-ever leftist government.
He is now faced with a divided Congress, where he lacks a majority.
Supporters are hoping for a harsh crackdown on crime and dissident armed groups.
"This government has a lot to prove. A lot was said during the campaign," 46-year-old Marisol Peira told AFP in Cali.
Mr Petro tried and failed to negotiate peace with the country's armed groups.
Experts say the gangs - once ideological but now focused on making money from cocaine trafficking and other illicit trades - used government truces as cover to grow.
Mr Petro, who has claimed election fraud without providing evidence, called for mass protests in major cities, and hundreds of people peacefully demonstrated in Bogota and Barranquilla.
Mr De la Espriella's victory is yet another notch in the belt for Latin American right-wingers after electoral wins from Chile to Costa Rica on the back of security promises.
The former lawyer wants to eliminate coca crops used for cocaine production "by all means", advocates the environmentally harmful practice of fracking, and plans to lower taxes for the rich.
Calling himself "The Tiger", Mr De la Espriella plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel to aid his war on guerrillas.
His so-called "Plan Colombia II" is a nod to a multimillion-dollar agreement with Washington in the 2000s aimed at combating drug cartels and leftist groups.
"We have to support him so there won't be so much crime," said German Angulo, a 63-year-old contractor.
"We need a complete change."
Although the original "Plan Colombia" succeeded in weakening key combat groups, it also led to allegations of serious human rights abuses.
US State Department officials announced an intention to work with Congress to approve a $1 billion (€865 million) assistance package for Colombia, as the new right-wing president there took office.
"As a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, the United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support President (Abdelardo) de la Espriella's administration in achieving our shared goals," the statement said.
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Source: RTE
