June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday endorsed Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, a ‌right-wing lawyer, who will face off against leftist senator ‌Ivan Cepeda in a runoff election this month.

"The results of this Election are ​very important to the future of Colombia and its relationship to the United States," Trump said in a post on social media.

De la Espriella and Cepeda will head to a June ‌presidential runoff after a ⁠tight first-round vote. De la Espriella, who has never held elected office, garnered nearly 44% of the ⁠votes, while Cepeda, a long-time senator and activist, garnered under 41%.

De la Espriella's personal style and policy proposals - including tough rhetoric ​against illegal ​armed groups and the promise ​to build 10 megaprisons - ‌have drawn comparisons to El Salvador's Nayib Bukele.

"The United States plays a crucial role in combating crime and narco-terrorism and in finally freeing Colombia from so much pain and violence," De la Espriella said in a video interview shared on social ‌media, adding that he and Trump "share values ​and principles in defense of democracy, ​in defense of freedom ​and in defense of the rule of law."

Leftist ‌Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who ​has had a ​tumultuous relationship with the American leader, criticized Trump's endorsement of right-wing de la Espriella in a post on social ​media on Tuesday ‌night.

"When one country interferes in another country’s decisions, freedom ​dies," Petro said.

(Reporting by Christian Martinez and Julia Symmes ​Cobb; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)