Fifteen years of Plan Colombia (2001-2016): the recovery of a weak state and the submission of narco-terrorist groups?

The main purpose of this discussion paper is to present a general view of the consequences of Plan Colombia for the Colombian conflict during the last 15 years. During that period, the governments of the United States and Colombia have worked together to fight the most significant challenge for security at the turn of the 21st century. The goals of Plan Colombia of reducing the cultivation, production, and distribution of illegal narcotics –being the cultivation of coca the main target– were not achieved. In addition, with Plan Colombia illegal mining grew and became an important income for Colombian narco-terrorist groups. However, with this strategy Colombia has achieved significant goals such as the strengthening of Colombian institutions and the consolidation of government presence in all regions of the national territory. Such a strategy has also contributed to restructuring the political and legal systems, the strengthening of the economy, the professionalization of the Armed Forces, and has made possible the beginning of processes that aimed at obtaining a negotiated peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the National Liberation Army (ELN).The main purpose of this discussion paper is to present a general view of the consequences of Plan Colombia for the Colombian conflict during the last 15 years. During that period, the governments of the United States and Colombia have worked together to fight the most significant challenge for security at the turn of the 21st century. The goals of Plan Colombia of reducing the cultivation, production, and distribution of illegal narcotics –being the cultivation of coca the main target– were not achieved. In addition, with Plan Colombia illegal mining grew and became an important income for Colombian narco-terrorist groups. However, with this strategy Colombia has achieved significant goals such as the strengthening of Colombian institutions and the consolidation of government presence in all regions of the national territory. Such a strategy has also contributed to restructuring the political and legal systems, the strengthening of the economy, the professionalization of the Armed Forces, and has made possible the beginning of processes that aimed at obtaining a negotiated peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the National Liberation Army (ELN).La idea básica de este escrito es presentar una visión amplia de las implicaciones del Plan Colombia sobre el conflicto colombiano en la ultima década y media. Durante el curso de estos 15 años, los gobernantes de Estados Unidos y de Colombia han estado trabajando juntos para enfrentar el reto a la seguridad más importante de los inicios del siglo XXI. Los objetivos del Plan Colombia (reducir el cultivo, procesamiento y distribución ilegal de narcóticos, con el cultivo de coca como objetivo) no se han alcanzado. Adicionalmente, con el Plan Colombia la minería ilegal comenzó a prosperar y se convirtió en una importante fuente de ingresos para los grupos narcoterroristas colombianos. No obstante, con esta estrategia Colombia ha alcanzado importantes metas como la recuperación de la institucionalidad colombiana y consolidar la presencia del Gobierno en todas las áreas del territorio nacional. Al mismo tiempo, se ha conseguido la reestructuración de sus sistemas políticos y legales, el fortalecimiento de su economía, la profesionalización de las Fuerzas Armadas y la posibilidad de iniciar un proceso de negociación que permita obtener un acuerdo de paz negociado con las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) y el Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN)