Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, set to assume the office on Friday, is expected to withdraw the country from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), President Donald Trump’s nominee to represent America in the country told Congress on Wednesday. Morris expressed great optimism in future American-Colombian relations under de la Espriella, following a disastrous four years in bilateral ties under Petro. De la Espriella announced in July that he would join President Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” initiative to fight global organized crime. The Chinese government, while mindful of de la Espriella being a vocal conservative, has not made moves to alienate the incoming president. “China and Colombia are strategic partners,” genocidal communist dictator Xi Jinping reportedly said in a message to de la Espriella.