Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday declared that Colombia’s armed forces are stronger than they have ever been.
Speaking to Colombia’s Third Battalion at a ceremony on Wednesday, Santos said that the military is to increase by 5,000 soldiers, the police will receive 20,000 new recruits, and $55 million will be assigned to a welfare fund for members of the armed forces.
“We are incorporating new helicopters, planes, submarines, speedboats and other transport and intelligence equipment in order to increase our capacities to combat terrorism, drug trafficking, and general crime as well as improving our defense conditions,” stated Santos.
Santos’s announcement comes in the midst of an increased police and military operation combating criminal gangs across the country.
MORE: Santos orders raids on crime hotspots in 20 cities
The head of state also spoke at a separate military event on Wednesday, urging Colombia’s uniformed forces “to maintain and increase the offensive until we achieve peace.”
Sources
- Presidente Santos ordena a la Fuerza Pública mantener la ofensiva hasta que se logre un acuerdo de paz (Ministerio de Defensa Nacional)
- ‘Hoy tenemos las Fuerzas Armadas más fuertes y más capaces de toda nuestra historia’: Presidente Santos (Ministerio de Defensa Nacional)
