BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s newly appointed defense minister has pledged to recover territories that have fallen into the hands of rebel factions and displaced thousands. In a speech directed at the country’s armed forces, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized the military’s crucial mission to “fortify national sovereignty and safeguard” Colombian citizens. This marks a shift in military strategy, suggesting that the previously restrained approach—where the military was instructed to limit attacks on militant groups—will now become more assertive.
Sánchez expressed his concern over the treatment of Colombia’s forces, stating, “We cannot allow our police and military to be mistreated, attacked, and disregarded as if they are mere objects.” These remarks were made in the wake of an incident in the Cauca province where 28 police officers and a soldier were taken hostage by civilians amidst confrontations with the FARC-EMC rebel group. The captives were subsequently released.
Appointed in late February, Sánchez, a former air force general, steps into the role of defense minister as the nation grapples with its most severe security challenges in a decade. A recent surge of violence in the northeastern Catatumbo region resulted in the displacement of over 36,000 people and claimed around 80 lives due to attacks orchestrated by the National Liberation Army (ELN). These events also led President Gustavo Petro to halt peace dialogues with the rebellious factions initiated in late 2022.
President Petro, who has a history with Colombian rebel groups, has been pushing for peace negotiations under a strategy he calls total peace. Though some short-lived ceasefires have emerged from these efforts, they have not yielded permanent solutions. Experts suggest that during these ceasefires, groups such as the ELN and FARC-EMC exploited the lull to bolster their ranks and solidify control over remote territories, where they levy extortion on local enterprises and dominate drug trafficking channels.
Sánchez voiced his disappointment at the betrayal of peace efforts, remarking, “Our president has shown considerable generosity in the pursuit of peace, yet that good faith has been misused by those perpetuating violence on our people.” The peace agreement signed in 2016 with the FARC led to more than 13,000 fighters laying down their arms. However, smaller criminal enterprises have emerged to fill the void, furthering the illegal drug and mining operations.
President Petro has criticized the ELN’s leadership for abandoning its revolutionary roots and becoming “avaricious” drug lords. In a recent initiative, Colombia’s government announced it would incentivize farmers in Catatumbo to replace coca crops with legal alternatives, aiming to deprive ELN forces of crucial cocaine-generated revenue.
Sánchez has made history as the first retired military figure to become defense minister in Colombia in three decades, marking a departure from the norm of appointing civilian leaders to direct the ministry. His public visibility surged in 2023 when he orchestrated the successful rescue of four indigenous children following a plane crash in the Amazon rainforest. Sánchez transitioned to civilian life in February, following his selection by President Petro to head the nation’s defense ministry.
