Colombia-US: Realignment on Security

Executive Summary 

Colombia’s government has begun its term by aligning its policies with the current US administration. President Abelardo de la Espriella has joined the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a US-led military alliance aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks. This indicates a shift towards a more militarized security strategy for the next four years. The outcome will either establish a new precedent or serve as a reminder of past human rights violations.

Key Points 

• Colombia’s new government began its term by resetting the bilateral relationship with the United States, signaling the close alignment it intends to maintain over the next four years.
• Security ties between Colombia and the United States are deepening across multiple tracks, from coalition membership to a proposed bilateral strategy and a pledged $1 billion in assistance.

Analysis 

Colombia has joined a United States coalition that commits its security forces to military action against drug-trafficking networks. On August 12, 2026, just days after his inauguration, President Abelardo de la Espriella announced Colombia’s entry into the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), which the Trump administration established in March 2026. The coalition binds members to coordinate military operations, including lethal force, against cartel networks across the Western Hemisphere. In Panama, Colombia’s defense minister signed an Access, Basing, and Overflight agreement with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, authorizing joint operations and marking its entry into the coalition.

The increase in U.S. military assistance reflects Bogota’s realignment with Washington. De la Espriella campaigned on repairing a relationship his predecessor had strained through repeated disputes with the Trump administration. In July, before the new administration was sworn in, Defense Minister Jorge Mora and Joseph M. Humire, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Americas, announced Plan Patriot 2.0, a bilateral strategy against drug trafficking and organized crime, with Washington pledging $1 billion in security assistance. They also discussed establishing a regional center in Colombia to counter trafficking and transnational threats. No agreement has been signed yet, and parts of the package still require US congressional approval, but the political commitment confirms the reset.

Colombia’s renewed military strategy threatens a sharp rise in human rights abuses. In 2003, Álvaro Uribe launched the original Plan Patriot with US backing, sending thousands of troops against the FARC and ELN in the southern departments. Colombia’s Truth Commission later documented extrajudicial killings, such as torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and mass displacement. The risk is that the same operational logic could produce the same outcome.

Policy Implications

1. Accountability and Transparency will be essential

As de la Espriella’s government strengthens its security collaborations with Washington, it will be crucial to implement strong oversight and accountability systems to prevent misuse and guarantee lawful conduct, considering the historical dangers associated with similar initiatives.

2. The strategy rests on a political alignment neither government can guarantee

The security cooperation has traditionally been based on institutional ties that have outlived changes in government in both countries. Long-standing shared training programs and intelligence channels have persisted despite political shifts. However, aligning closely with the U.S. administration now renders that enduring relationship more partisan.

3. A Regional Pattern, Not an Exception

Colombia’s shift toward a more militarized security approach is not an isolated case. Its renewed cooperation with the US has centered on military action, mirroring a broader regional pattern. A3C comprises nineteen governments that have agreed to cooperate on military strategies against trafficking networks. These governments paired closer alignment with Washington with a military-first response to organized crime. Colombia’s position aligns with this regional trend rather than diverging from it.

Bibliography 

1. Blanquicet, J. (2026) ‘Plan Patriota 2.0: la apuesta con la que el nuevo gobierno busca relanzar la cooperación militar entre Colombia y Estados Unidos’, El Tiempo, 21 July. Available at: https://www.eltiempo.com/amp/justicia/conflicto-y-narcotrafico/plan-patriota-2-0-la-apuesta-con-la-que-el-nuevo-gobierno-busca-relanzar-la-cooperacion-militar-entre-colombia-y-estados-unidos-3572696 (Accessed: 12 September 2026).
2. Collins, J. (2026) ‘As De la Espriella takes office, his US-backed security policy for Colombia is raising questions’, Colombia Reports, 3 August. Available at: https://colombiareports.com/as-de-la-espriella-takes-office-his-us-backed-security-policy-for-colombia-is-raising-questions/ (Accessed: 12 September 2026).
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4. El Colombiano. (2026) ‘Colombia, Ecuador y EE. UU. trabajan en ofensiva conjunta para crear una base militar binacional en la frontera’, El Colombiano, 28 August. Available at: https://www.elcolombiano.com/colombia/narcotrafico-asi-seria-la-ofensiva-conjunta-entre-colombia-ecuador-y-eeuu-LO40398074 (Accessed: 12 September 2026).
5. International Crisis Group. (2026) Total peace to iron fist? Colombia’s risky turn to hard security. Brussels: International Crisis Group, Briefing No. 56. Available at: https://www.crisisgroup.org/brf/latin-america-caribbean/colombia-united-states/b56-total-peace-iron-fist-colombias-risky-turn-hard-security (Accessed: 12 September 2026).
6. Stewart, P. (2026) ‘Hegseth welcomes Colombia to counter-drug alliance after its election’, Reuters, 12 August. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/hegseth-welcomes-colombia-counter-drug-alliance-after-its-election-2026-08-12/ (Accessed: 12 September 2026).
7. U.S. Department of State. (2026) A new era in U.S.-Colombia relations. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Spokesperson. Available at: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/08/a-new-era-in-u-s-colombia-relations (Accessed: 12 September 2026).