Colombia’s Ministry of Defense announced it will try to establish talks
with U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to seek the continuation of Plan
Colombia, a multi-billion dollar joint operation to fight the
production of coca in Colombia.
“We want to establish a communication with the new team of President Barack Obama to talk about some initiatives we have and some they have so that the continuity of Plan Colombia is ensured,” Colombia’s Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told newspaper El Espectador.
The U.S. government recognizes the success President Álvaro Uribe’s administration had in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorist organizations, Santos said despite a U.S. congress report saying Plan Colombia has not met its targets and hasn’t been able to curb the production of coca in Colombia.
However, “Plan Colombia is not at stake. There may be some discussion on elements within the program, but we all know that with time things would change,” the Minister said.
Santos doesn’t epect reduction of aid beyond what already has been announced or could be expected.
The U.S. government over the past six years invested US$5 billion in the destruction of coca fields and the Government’s fight against leftist rebels, right wing paramilitaries and drug traffickers.
