How much of a challenge will the military present for Colombia's new left-wing president?
The Hundred #26: August 18, 2022
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“Petro has proposed significant reforms to the relationship with the armed forces, such as removing the police from the Ministry of Defense. He was also committed to opening a global debate about the war on drugs. It is unlikely that these policy initiatives will be well-received by the Colombian military, which is likely to lead to friction. While public opinion is favorable, particularly among those who protested between 2019 and 2021, it is improbable that his more radical views on the management of the armed forces will be passed by Congress, permitted by the Courts, or implemented by military institutions.”
“Gustavo Petro took office as Colombia’s first left-wing president on 7 August. Since then, he has appointed new commanders for the military and the police based on the candidates' reputation, considering that security officials have a long history of corruption and human rights abuses from nearly six decades of armed conflict. Colombia's security forces are used to dealing with right-wing governments and their methods. Consequently, even though these officials will respect the commander in chief, they will also question his strategy to achieve total peace.”
“Colombia’s military is a historically conservative force that once fought Gustavo Petro’s old guerrilla group. Petro’s relations with it may be rocky, not least because his defense minister, a corruption-fighting lawyer, may move against powerful officers. Coup attempts are unlikely because of democratic traditions. But officers can rattle sabers through angry resignations, alliances between retired commanders and political opponents, or minimal obedience of civilian orders. Crimefighting, which affects Colombians’ daily lives, may be a flashpoint. Military and police officers can undermine the President, whose inner circle includes few security experts, by doing the bare minimum and allowing insecurity to worsen.”
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