US approves $320M for Plan Colombia as controversial program continues
US approves $320M for Plan Colombia as controversial program continues
posted by Luke Horswell
Jan 17, 2014
The United States has finalized their fiscal budget for 2014 which will see Colombia receive the next installment of Plan Colombia to the tune of $320 million.
Plan Colombia is bilateral agreement between the United States and Colombia aimed reducing drug trafficking and cultivation as well as fighting leftist rebel groups.
Of the $320 million, $140 million will be attributed to counter-narcotics, $28.5 million to the army and $140 million for development and institutional strengthening.
This allocation of aid demonstrates the priority the US places on counter-narcotics efforts in the region despite the fiscal difficulties it faces domestically. Colombia’s Ambassador to the US, Carlos Villegas, has said “The action taken by Congress to maintain support for Colombia demonstrates strong bipartisan support for the program and reinforces the importance of long-standing strategic partnership”.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/us-approves-320m-aid-colombia-plan-colombia-continues/
