Plan Colombia

Ashleigh Uhler, Matt Herten, Dan Deminski and Jordan (Felix) Pangelinan

Introduction

• Plan Colombia encompasses joint efforts by U.S. & Colombia to curb guerilla insurgency

• Combatting drug trade funding FARC and ELN

• Anti-drug message for both nations

U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey

Guerilla Problem in Colombia

• Left-wing insurgency efforts against right-wing paramilitary power

• FARC and ELN the two main players for the left

• AUC acts as insurgency for the right

Colombian Army Soldiers

Planning of Plan Colombia

• President Andres Pastrana proposed a "Marshall Plan for Colombia"

• US had issues with drug flow from Colombia

• Presidents Pastrana and Clinton met in 1998, proposing US aid to the Colombian efforts

Beginning of the Plan under Clinton

• Clinton pledged $1 billion to the plan in 2000

• 78% of American funds went to Colombian military and police forces

• Colombia became the third largest recipient of US foreign aid

The Original Plan

- Compared to The Marshall Plan:

-intention of channeling military and developmental aid from international organizations and foreign governments into the country

-"plan for peace, prosperity and the strengthening of the state"

The Original Plan

- Consisted of Five Elements:

- The Peace Process

- Economic Recuperation Strategy

- Anti-narcotic Strategy

- Human Rights and Judicial Reform

- Strengthening of Rule of Law

- Originally drafted in English, then translated into Spanish

Plan Objectives

United States perspective

• Prevent the flow of illegal drugs into the United States

• Help Colombia promote peace and economic development regional security in the Andes

Colombian perspective

• Promote peace and economic development, and increase security

• Addressing drug trafficking as key aspect

The Original Plan

- Required $7.5 Billion

- Colombia: $4.9 Billion

- U.S.: $ 1.3 Billion allocated for military usage

- Rest to be proved by EU and NGO support

Financing Plan Colombia

• Original Plan called for 7.5 billion US dollars:

51% Institution/Social Development

32% Fighting Drugs

16% Economic/Social Revitalization

.8% To resolve the guerilla relationship

Problems with Financing

- International community was reluctant to finance the plan; unsure of plan's success rate

- Many disapproved of the Financial Negotiations approved by U.S.

- Colombia unable to reach $4.9 million resulting from 1999-2001 economic crisis

The New Plan

- Focused the plan to concentrate on drug trafficking and training the military

- 78% of U.S. Aid (2000) channeled to counternarcotics and military training

- Combating the FARC Guerillas

US Aid•US Aid has totaled 8 billion dollars over

the last decade

•The majority of it spend on military aid

•Because of this aid, Colombia was the 3rd largest recipient of foreign aid in the early 2000s.

•President Bush made changes to funding in 2004

Funding Allocation

• Training and equipment for Antinarcotics Teams

• Helicopters, transport

• Intelligence

• Coca Eradication Equipment

Plan Colombia Under the Bush Administration- 2001

•Aid is expanded to surrounding countries

–Worried about expanding drug operations into poor border areas

•Appropriates $676 million for Counter drug Initiative

•$380 million given directly to Colombia

Plan Colombia Under the Bush Administration - 2001

•Civilian contractors now carry military weapons

•Claim to be protecting personnel and military equipment

•Funding of social programs in Colombia

•Crop development, improve human rights, create jobs

Plan Colombia Under the Bush Administration – 2004

•Appropriated $727 million to Counter Drug Initiative

•$463 million given directly to Colombia

•Military Advisors are increased from 400 to 800 people

•Private contractors are increased from 400 to 600 people

Results according to US Government

•Coca production going down

•Military Presence increase in Columbia

•US Military in Columbia

The Colombian People

•Turmoil in the country–Quasi civil war

•Aerial fumigation–Herbicides on legal

crops

•Providing economic alternatives?

2010 Base Agreement

• 1999; U.S. Gained 10 year agreement to have access to provide logistical support to the Colombia through the military base of Manta (Ecuador)

• First seen as a hope to economic growth, but became unwanted neighbor to local towns people, initiating operations against Ecuadorean fishing boats involved in drug trafficking

• July 2009, U.S. Left Manta, Ecuadorean President Correa refused to renew contract

2010 Base Agreement

• Jul 2009, U.S. granted access by President Uribe to three military bases in Colombia

• Resistance to U.S. access to Colombian Baseso Undermined national

sovereignty o Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela

“any politician who allowed U.S. troops into their country “is a traitor to his country, a traitor to his fatherland”