U.S. Ambassador to Colombia: U.S. Aid to Colombia could change with peace accord
In a January 25 interview with El Tiempo, the United States Ambassador to Colombia, Kevin Whitaker, said the administration would request funds for post-conflict initiatives in the event of a peace accord between the FARC rebels and Colombian government. While Colombia continues to be the top recipient of U.S. military aid in the region, this assistance has been declining since 2010. Here is a summary of some key points on security from the interview.
Ambassador Whitaker noted the United States has already moved to support some of the initiatives that would continue in a post conflict setting:
“We are already involved in three basic post-conflict areas. First, with victims; second, with the restitution of land, and finally, with the reintegration of ex-combatants. For reintegration we have spent around $42 million; for land restitution, $70 million, and for victims, $60 million. We have in part financed the Unity of Victims in the Public Prosecutor’s Office. If there is peace, we can ask Congress for more funds to help Colombia in its post conflict situation.”
Many human rights groups in both Colombia and the United States have promoted the reallocation of U.S. aid to Colombia, claiming the United States has heavily invested in Colombia’s war and that it is now time to invest in its peace. Whitaker reiterated total U.S. support for the negotiations:
“We thoroughly support the government of Colombia in its efforts to arrive at a negotiated peace. This is the best chance in 50 years to achieve peace. It’s something that all Colombians deserve.”
Whitaker also hailed Colombia’s progress on combating drug trafficking, and attributed the success to the controversial practice of coca fumigation, interdictions and extraditions. According to Whitaker, the FARC remains a potent force in Colombia, but should a peace accord be reached, said the group could become an asset to the country’s counternarcotics efforts:
“FARC has recognized that they have participated in the production of cocaine. It is the first time in history that FARC recognizes their role and responsibility in that. There is, what I believe to be, well founded hope on the part of the government that after the signing of a peace accord we can expect FARC to participate in the fight against narcotics.”
Despite his optimism he cautioned that even in the event of a peace agreement, Colombia still had significant security challenges ahead. He proposed using the country’s armed forces to fight domestic crime outside of the insurgency:
“Colombia is a country with a lot of violence. A peace accord will end violence for political ends; this could be a very important advance, but the frightening levels of violence in the country must be reduced. If peace is achieved, the armed forces could focus more on fighting common crime.”
Regarding the current debate on whether to submit the agreement to ratification from the country, Whitaker deftly championed his support:
“As a diplomat, I obviously cannot answer. As an analyst, I believe that the president has been very clear on this and has said that there will be a discussion with the people.”
On one of the release of imprisoned guerillas in the United States, he spoke to the inviolability of judicial procedure, and emphasized that the continued role of the United States is to assist Colombia in its own realization of peace, not to meddle in negotiations:
“First it is important to remember that the Judicial Branch is independent. Second, a person that has already been convicted is in a very distinct position, and third, we fully support the Government of Colombia in its efforts to arrive at a negotiated peace, and we do not want to be an obstacle, we want to help.”
Whitaker ensured that the overall relationship between the United States and Colombia is strong, focusing on improvements in trade and embassy relations. He left room for different ways to approach the relationship in the future:
“There is always room for improvement between these two friendly countries. What’s important is to have a fluid relationship and look for imaginative solutions to problems.”
When asked to make predictions for the future of Colombia if peace is reached, Whitaker said:
“It is very possible it will be a different country. More production, more jobs, more foreign capital, more security. More utilization of the immense human capital in the country. More investment. Let me give you an example: I see now that the price of petroleum is $46; it’s very low, but suppose that this changes. One of the factors that attract investors to Colombia is the presence of hydrocarbon, but there are problems like violence, that put off investment. If peace is achieved, Colombia will be even more attractive in the area of hydrocarbon investment.”