The USA is to help Colombia establish an intelligence centre to fight drug production and trafficking. US aid will include training, technical assistance and the supply of equipment (Jane's Defence Weekly 27 October).
The assistance package was announced during the three-day visit of US Gen Charles Wilhelm commander of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) late last month.
It is expected that the centre will be established in the southern base of Tres Esquinas in Caqueta. The base is strategically located to facilitate access to areas of illicit crop cultivation in zones with a strong guerrilla presence.
Gen Wilhelm also announced that the US would upgrade Colombia's OV- 10A Bronco, A-37B Dragonfly and AC-47 counter insurgency aircraft as part of the effort to raise the combat effectiveness of the Colombian armed forces. The programme will initially involve 10 A- 37Bs and 11 OV-10 aircraft in addition to an unspecified number of AC-47s.
US aid to Colombia reflects the recognition that the country's armed forces lack sufficient air transport and intelligence gathering capabilities.
A recent series of successes in confrontations with guerrillas has been widely attributed to the gradual improvement in the country's real-time intelligence capability. This has allowed the army and air force to respond rapidly and track guerrilla movements across mountainous and densely covered terrain.