Colombia's hard-right presidential frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella pledged closer ties with the United States on Tuesday after receiving US President Donald Trump's endorsement, strengthening his position ahead of a June 21 run-off election against leftist senator Ivan Cepeda.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will attend and speak at a rescheduled White House correspondents' dinner on July 24, nearly three months after a shooting outside the original event prompted his evacuation. Organisers said the gathering will proceed with enhanced security, insisting that violence will not dictate public life.