{ "id": "RL32250", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL32250", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 416349, "date": "2012-11-28", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T23:48:49.027519", "title": "Colombia: Background, U.S. Relations, and Congressional Interest", "summary": "Colombia, a key U.S. ally, has made measurable progress in providing security despite having endured the longest internal armed conflict in the Western Hemisphere. It has long been a source for both cocaine and heroin. Drug trafficking has helped to perpetuate civil conflict by funding both left-wing and right-wing armed groups. Over the years, Colombia and the United States forged a close partnership focused initially on counternarcotics and later counterterrorism. Building on that cooperation, the U.S.-Colombia partnership has broadened to include development, human rights, and trade. Colombia has emerged as a regional leader providing training in security and counternarcotics throughout the hemisphere and elsewhere.\nPresident Juan Manuel Santos, inaugurated in August 2010, has governed with the backing of almost 90% of the Colombian Congress in a \u201cnational unity\u201d coalition. In a policy he calls \u201cdemocratic prosperity,\u201d Santos has continued the mission of his popular predecessor of accentuating security, while promoting economic development, creation of jobs, and poverty reduction. He has repaired relations with Ecuador and Venezuela, which had been strained under the former government. He has promoted legislative reforms, including a landmark law to compensate victims of the internal conflict; a justice reform bill that ultimately failed; and controversial \u201cpeace framework\u201d and military justice reforms that appeared to be laying the groundwork for an eventual peace settlement. In October 2012, formal peace talks opened with the dominant leftist guerrilla organization, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), following a surprise announcement that the government had been conducting secret exploratory talks for months.\nColombia, in close collaboration with the United States, through a strategy known as Plan Colombia, has made significant progress in reestablishing government control over much of its territory, combating drug trafficking and terrorist activities, and reducing poverty. Between FY2000 and FY2012, the U.S. Congress appropriated more than $8 billion in assistance to carry out Plan Colombia and its follow-on strategies. As Colombia\u2019s security and development conditions improved, former U.S.-supported programs have been nationalized to Colombian control. Consequently, U.S. assistance with its counternarcotics, counterterrorism, judicial reform, economic development, humanitarian, and human rights components has gradually declined. The National Consolidation Plan, the current Colombian security strategy, updates Plan Colombia with a whole-of-government approach that integrates security, development, and counternarcotics by consolidating state presence in previously ungoverned areas.\nThe 112th Congress has maintained a strong interest in Colombia\u2019s progress in trade, security, counternarcotics, and human rights. In October 2011, the U.S. Congress approved implementing legislation for the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which went into force on May 15, 2012. Members of Congress will continue to monitor the associated Action Plan Related to Labor Rights that addressed U.S. concerns related to labor rights and violence in Colombia. In addition to the larger debate about what role the United States should continue to play in Colombia\u2019s ongoing struggle with drug trafficking and illegal armed groups, Congress has expressed concern with a number of related issues. These include funding levels for Plan Colombia\u2019s follow-on strategies; continuing allegations of human rights abuses; and the effectiveness of counternarcotics policies such as aerial eradication and alternative development. Members will likely monitor Colombia\u2019s peace negotiations and their effect on security conditions in the country. For additional information, see CRS Report RL34470, The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Background and Issues.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL32250", "sha1": "f4e33a7e4f5c63bd4c92a4c5c87ae73a21baeaef", "filename": "files/20121128_RL32250_f4e33a7e4f5c63bd4c92a4c5c87ae73a21baeaef.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL32250", "sha1": "13689c2b5c41884f458e21dad5d622ddc16d912e", "filename": "files/20121128_RL32250_13689c2b5c41884f458e21dad5d622ddc16d912e.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc99082/", "id": "RL32250_2011Mar18", "date": "2011-03-18", "retrieved": "2012-08-31T21:48:36", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": "This report provides an overview of recent political developments in Colombia. It reviews the administration of President Uribe (2002-2010), continuing into the election of President Juan Manuel Santos and his first months in office. The report then provides background on the longstanding conflict with internal armed groups that has marked Colombia\u2019s modern development, examining the roots of the conflict and its major actors as well as their present status. The report considers ongoing challenges such as human rights, demobilization and displacement, drug trends, and Colombia\u2019s regional relations. It outlines the National Consolidation Plan which updates Plan Colombia with a whole-of-government approach to eliminate the insurgency, and it describes the U.S.-Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement. The report raises some of the major policy issues that the U.S. Congress has had, and will continue to pursue, in relation to U.S.-Colombia policy, such as the pending U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110318_RL32250_c5b65b0832442347b4b4ca6cfc9c6da11c5671a1.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110318_RL32250_c5b65b0832442347b4b4ca6cfc9c6da11c5671a1.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Colombia -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Colombia -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc503571/", "id": "RL32250_2010Apr23", "date": "2010-04-23", "retrieved": "2015-04-30T17:37:21", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": "This report provides an overview of recent political developments in Colombia, including the administration of President Uribe (2002-2010), continuing into the election of President Juan Manuel Santos. It discusses the political issues including Colombia's longstanding conflict with internal armed groups and ongoing challenges such as human rights, demobilization and displacement, drug trends, and Colombia's regional relations. The report also lays out issues for Congress including various plans for addressing those issues.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100423_RL32250_fc07035e4bf4c6badc8e9fc3386778b7c78f09d7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100423_RL32250_fc07035e4bf4c6badc8e9fc3386778b7c78f09d7.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign economic relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign economic relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc627213/", "id": "RL32250_2009Nov13", "date": "2009-11-13", "retrieved": "2015-06-15T14:46:40", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": "This report provides an overview of recent political developments in Colombia, including the administration of President Uribe (2002-2010), continuing into the election of President Juan Manuel Santos. It discusses the political issues including Colombia's longstanding conflict with internal armed groups and ongoing challenges such as human rights, demobilization and displacement, drug trends, and Colombia's regional relations.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20091113_RL32250_63e7da8035f36d91d5d37d3ebb2c7126f9efef25.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20091113_RL32250_63e7da8035f36d91d5d37d3ebb2c7126f9efef25.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign economic relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign economic relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc689370/", "id": "RL32250_2009Aug07", "date": "2009-08-07", "retrieved": "2015-08-03T15:06:47", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": "This report provides an overview of recent political developments in Colombia, including the administration of President Uribe (2002-2010), continuing into the election of President Juan Manuel Santos. It discusses the political issues including Colombia's longstanding conflict with internal armed groups and ongoing challenges such as human rights, demobilization and displacement, drug trends, and Colombia's regional relations.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090807_RL32250_5530b1b5a178532a22de8326c210c0f218c68ec4.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090807_RL32250_5530b1b5a178532a22de8326c210c0f218c68ec4.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign economic relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign economic relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc818275/", "id": "RL32250_2009Jan12", "date": "2009-01-12", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090112_RL32250_239dc81f8448cf56c550a10b983d66b4ac0639bd.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090112_RL32250_239dc81f8448cf56c550a10b983d66b4ac0639bd.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc795664/", "id": "RL32250_2008Sep12", "date": "2008-09-12", "retrieved": "2016-01-13T14:26:20", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": "This report provides an overview of recent political developments in Colombia, including the administration of President Uribe (2002-2010), continuing into the election of President Juan Manuel Santos. It discusses the political issues including Colombia's longstanding conflict with internal armed groups and ongoing challenges such as human rights, demobilization and displacement, drug trends, and Colombia's regional relations.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080912_RL32250_692f23c71d9ab5a43ef80ecbd58bdb24bc622da1.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080912_RL32250_692f23c71d9ab5a43ef80ecbd58bdb24bc622da1.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign economic relations -- U.S. -- Colombia", "name": "Foreign economic relations -- U.S. -- Colombia" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc817570/", "id": "RL32250_2007Nov09", "date": "2007-11-09", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20071109_RL32250_ee1356f996786337094b58ab978fbec5334e0349.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20071109_RL32250_ee1356f996786337094b58ab978fbec5334e0349.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs9352/", "id": "RL32250 2006-01-04", "date": "2006-01-04", "retrieved": "2006-12-05T10:04:29", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": "Recent debate on U.S. policy toward Colombia has taken place in a context of concern for the volume of drugs readily available in the United States and elsewhere in the world, and regional security issues. The United States has made a significant commitment of funds and material support to help Colombia and the Andean region fight drug trafficking since the development of Plan Colombia in 1999. Congress passed legislation providing $1.3 billion in assistance for FY2000 (P.L. 106-246) and has provided more than $4 billion for programs in Colombia from FY2000 through FY2005 in both State Department and Defense Department counternarcotics accounts.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060104_RL32250_2df02f67ff23fe997c54a61253eedc6467c89ccc.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060104_RL32250_2df02f67ff23fe997c54a61253eedc6467c89ccc.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Drug traffic", "name": "Drug traffic" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - Colombia - U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations - Colombia - U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Colombia", "name": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Colombia" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Drug abuse", "name": "Drug abuse" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc817757/", "id": "RL32250_2005Jan19", "date": "2005-01-19", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Colombia: Issues for Congress", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20050119_RL32250_7edb0ffcb82fc3ca297c49c4a7f70ec340d48a9f.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20050119_RL32250_7edb0ffcb82fc3ca297c49c4a7f70ec340d48a9f.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Domestic Social Policy", "Economic Policy", "Foreign Affairs", "Intelligence and National Security", "National Defense" ] }