COLOMBIA: A MIX-UP OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY POLICIES

"COLOMBIA, U.S HELP, AND DSP: THE KEY FOR COLOMBIA´S WAR AGAINST TERRORISM AND PROSPERITY" 

The International policy has been reflected in Colombia in a drastic way, having in mind that Colombia is one of the World´s top countries in the drug production, and has more than three big illegal groups (terrorists), including guerrillas, paramilitaries, and Bacrims, which use the drug and other resources (gold, silver, etc.) to sustain (economically) their “cause”. Therefore, the policies established by other countries and global institutions have been hardly applied among Colombia, with quite good results. For example, Colombia has signed threats with the U.S. to eradicate terrorism and drug production, a fact that touches directly the U.S. The policies for security adopted by Colombia have led to a reduction of the insurgent groups, what has permitted Colombia to situate into one of the most powerful countries in South America. 

The policies have make much more secure some places. Airports, exclusive places, such as clubs and restaurants, and public spaces, are some examples. Nonetheless, those global policies have been mixed up with local policies, such as the Democratic security policy, established by Álvaro Uribe Velez. “President Alvaro Uribe has made combating the insurgents the overriding priority and defining objective of the Colombian government…Under the DSP, Uribe has sought to regain control of the country by increasing the numbers and capacity of troops and police units and by deploying them across the country to challenge the guerrillas. This has been accompanied by a major increase in the eradication of illicit crops, aimed as much at denying revenues to the guerrillas and paramilitary groups as at reducing coca and opium poppy production” (Colombia: President Uribe´s Democratic Security Policy). 

The previous quote illustrates the Democratic Security policy, a strategy that has helped with International policies to eradicate illegal groups in Colombia and into the direct and frontal war Colombia has led against terrorism for years.

<<“Colombia: President Uribe´s Democratic Security Policy”. International Crisis Group. Latin America. 13/11/12. Web. 18/11/12.>>