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South America: Columbia
Narcotics and Rule of Law
The United States and Colombia continue to enjoy a close counternarcotics partnership. Under Plan Colombia, significant U.S. funding, technical assistance, and material support has been provided to Colombian-led counternarcotics programs aimed at interdicting and eradicating drugs at the source as well as expanding the capacity of Colombian military, police, and judicial institutions. Although nearly 90% of the cocaine entering the United States is processed in Colombia, and the country remains the primary source for heroin used east of the Mississippi River, Colombia has made real progress with the help of U.S. support in weakening drug trafficking organizations, disrupting the supply of illicit drugs to the United States, and establishing a security presence in former conflict regions.
In 2009, Colombian security forces seized a total of 205.85 metric tons of cocaine and cocaine base, 191.6 metric tons of marijuana, 740 kilograms of heroin, and over 1.35 million gallons and 3.54 million kilograms of precursor chemicals, while destroying 285 cocaine hydrochloride (HCL) labs and 2,795 coca base labs. After manually eradicating a record 96,000 hectares of illicit crops in 2008, the manual eradication goal for 2009 was reduced to 70,000 hectares in early 2009 because of funding limitations. Due to further budgetary constraints, security concerns and the dispersion of coca to smaller fields, Colombia’s manual eradication program eliminated approximately 60,500 hectares in 2009. The aerial eradication program sprayed 104,771 hectares, exceeding the spray goal of 100,000 hectares, but amounting to 28,725 hectares less than in 2008.
The involvement of Colombian terrorist groups in narcotics production and trafficking, including the FARC, increases the difficulty in addressing this problem. The United States remains committed to helping Colombia improve the rule of law and prevent drugs from reaching the United States through strong interdiction, eradication, and alternative development programs. As part of U.S. efforts to enhance local capacity in these areas, the Colombian Government has successfully assumed financial and operational responsibility for several counternarcotics programs previously supported by the United States.
U.S.-COLOMBIAN RELATIONS
In 1822, the United States became one of the first countries to recognize the new republic and to establish a resident diplomatic mission. The U.S. Government estimates that there are 61,000 U.S. citizens living in Colombia and anywhere from 15,000 to 40,000 visiting Colombia in any given month. Currently, there are approximately 250 American businesses conducting operations in Colombia.
During 1995-96, the United States and Colombia signed important agreements on environmental protection and civil aviation. The two countries have also signed agreements on asset sharing and chemical control. In 1997, the United States and Colombia signed an important maritime ship-boarding agreement to allow for search of suspected drug-running vessels. In September 2008, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on renewable and clean energy. In October 2009, the United States and Colombia signed the Defense Cooperation Agreement, which will deepen bilateral cooperation on security issues and facilitate effective bilateral cooperation on security matters in Colombia, including narcotics production and trafficking, terrorism, illicit smuggling, and humanitarian and natural disasters. The Defense Cooperation Agreement does not permit the establishment of any U.S. bases in Colombia, but it ensures continued U.S. access to certain Colombian facilities in order to undertake mutually agreed upon activities within Colombia.
During the Pastrana administration, relations with the United States improved significantly. The United States responded to the Colombian Government's request for international support for Plan Colombia by providing substantial assistance designed to increase Colombia's counter-narcotics capabilities and support human rights, humanitarian assistance, alternative development, and economic and judicial reforms.
The U.S. has continued close cooperation with Colombia under the Uribe administration. Recognizing that terrorism and the illicit narcotics trade in Colombia are inextricably linked, the U.S. Congress granted new expanded statutory authorities in 2002 making U.S. assistance to Colombia more flexible in order to better support President Uribe's unified campaign against narcotics and terrorism.
The results thus far have been impressive, but much remains to be done. U.S. policy toward Colombia supports the Colombian Government's efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions, promote respect for human rights and the rule of law, intensify counter-narcotics efforts, foster socioeconomic development, address immediate humanitarian needs, and end the threats to democracy posed by narcotics trafficking and terrorism. Promoting security, stability, and prosperity in Colombia will continue as long-term American interests in the region.
Uribe Administration
Alvaro Uribe, an independent, was elected president in May 2002 on a platform to restore security to the country. Among his promises was to continue to pursue the broad goals of Plan Colombia within the framework of a long-term security strategy. In the fall of 2002, Uribe released a national security strategy that employed political, economic, and military means to weaken all illegal armed groups. The Uribe government offered to negotiate a peace agreement with these groups with the condition that they agree to a unilateral cease fire and to end drug trafficking and kidnapping.
In December 2003, the Colombian United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) paramilitary group entered into a peace agreement with the government that has led to the collective demobilization of over 31,000 AUC members. In addition, at least 14,000 members of the FARC, AUC, ELN, and other illegal armed groups have individually surrendered their arms. In July 2005, President Uribe signed the Justice and Peace Law, which provides reduced punishments for the demobilized if they renounce violence and return illegal assets, which are to provide reparations to victims.
The ELN and the government began a round of talks with the Colombian Government mediated by the Mexican Government in mid-2004. The ELN withdrew from the talks after the Mexican Government voted to condemn Cuba's human rights record at the United Nations in April 2005. In December 2005, the ELN began a new round of talks with the Colombian Government in Cuba that led to multiple rounds of meetings, the latest one being held in late 2007 in Caracas, Venezuela. Recent attempts for talks with the Colombian Government have broken down.
As a result of the government's military and police operations, the strength of the FARC has been reduced in all urban areas and mostly limited to the most remote areas of the country. Since 2000, the FARC has not carried out large-scale multi-front attacks, although it has mounted some operations that indicate it has not yet been broken. The FARC has rejected several government proposals and numerous international efforts--including a high-profile effort in late 2007 by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez--aimed at bringing about an exchange of some 45 high-value FARC hostages. On July 2, 2008, an audacious Colombian military operation led to the rescue of three U.S. contractors, the French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, and 11 Colombians being held by the FARC. The three Americans were captured by the FARC in February 2003, and were the longest-held U.S. hostages in the world at the time of their rescue. On April 1, 2010, FARC rebels released one of their longest-held captives, Pablo Emilio Moncayo, a Colombian soldier kidnapped in 1998. As of May 2009, 66 hostages were being held by the FARC. They include 22 soldiers and police whom the guerrillas want to swap for government concessions. Colombian security forces killed several members of the FARC Secretariat in 2008, severely weakening its leadership. Additionally, a record number of FARC members deserted in 2008, yet another sign of the organization's deteriorating power.
Colombia maintains an excellent extradition relationship with the United States. The Uribe administration has extradited more than 1,000 fugitives to the United States. Among those extradited were Cali Cartel leaders Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela and his brother Miguel; FARC leaders Juvenal Ovidio Palmera Pineda (aka "Simon Trinidad") and Omaira Rojas Cabrera (aka "Sonia"); and former AUC leaders Salvatore Mancuso and Diego Murillo. In 2008, a record 208 were extradited to the U.S., including 15 members of the former AUC and several members of FARC.
In 2004, the Uribe government established, for the first time in recent Colombian history, a government presence in all of the country's 1,099 municipalities (county seats). Attacks conducted by illegally armed groups against rural towns decreased by 91% from 2002 to 2005. Between 2002 and 2009, Colombia saw a decrease in homicides by 45%, kidnappings by 92%, terrorist attacks by 71%, and attacks on the country's infrastructure by 83%.
Although much attention has been focused on the security aspects of Colombia's situation, the Uribe government also is making significant efforts on issues such as expanding international trade, supporting alternate means of development, reforming Colombia's judicial system, and reducing poverty.
President Uribe was reelected with 62% of the vote in May 2006. In congressional elections in March 2006, the three leading pro-Uribe parties (National Unity, Conservative Party, and Radical Change) won clear majorities in both houses of Congress. In late 2006, the Supreme Court began investigations and ordered the arrest of some members of Congress for actions on behalf of paramilitary groups. Several dozen politicians at both the national and local level have been implicated.
In January 2007, Colombian leaders presented a new strategy to consolidate and build a progressive program under Plan Colombia, called the "Strategy to Strengthen Democracy and Social Development." The new strategy continues successful Plan Colombia programs while increasing state presence by improving access to social services, and supporting economic development through sustainable growth and trade.
In March 2009, Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos announced the Colombian Government’s "strategic leap" policy to further diminish the military capacity of the FARC. The plan consists of a joint offensive by the several branches of the armed forces in areas where the FARC has strong military presence. Colombia will also strengthen its military presence on its borders to prevent guerrillas taking refuge in neighboring countries.
2010 Elections
Legislative elections were held in March 2010, and a first round of presidential elections was held in May 2010. A runoff election for president is scheduled for June 2010.
