Colombia and Mexico recently negotiated an extradition treaty. Should it be ratified, both troubled countries will finally have a good mechanism for security cooperation, as the drug trafficking and crime networks cannot be allowed to run rampant anywhere. Indeed, Colombia and Mexico’s problems are concerns of many other nations and should be taken as such, with serious international cooperation from other states.
The sole fact that 70 percent of illegal guns that are found in Mexico come from the U.S. should raise the alarms on how a domestic issue is truly both a national and an international concern. It should also point out that the Mexicans are not the only ones to blame for their problems and that uttering phrases like “failed states” overlooks these facts.
This is also true for Colombia, as its security matters abroad: Drug consumers indirectly fuel Colombia’s conflict, as do countries that hinder judicial processes by granting doubtful asylums or any group of people who still believe that the FARC are the people’s voice and that support them financially, to say the least.
The war on drugs, which has taken so many lives in Colombia and Mexico, is a clear example of inefficientinternational cooperation, as the efforts are aimed at production most of the times and not at consumers. Indeed, many efforts are conducted in developing countries, as if it was a minor issue within developed countries. In other words, the domestic troubles of consumer countries and their responsibilities to producing countries seem to be downplayed. Moreover, the world needs a new paradigm on drugs, as it has been noted that the war on drugs has been a very inefficient effort.
Cooperation between countries must become a key issue in policy making, and it has to be more creative and strong in order to make better gains in security. The flow of cash is not enough, as crime doesn’t know any barriers, and developed countries should know this better than anyone. In this regard, the extradition treaty between Colombia and Mexico is a fine example that even the so-called South-South cooperation in the war against drugs and internationalized crime is possible.
Only a concerted international response will solve international problems. Sadly, that seems unlikely now, as governments worldwide are too focused on their internal issues and stand internally divided on pressing situations because of ideology and partisanship.