Colombia's Presidential Election: A Shift in Drug War Strategy?

The Trump administration's campaign of strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific has resulted in significant casualties. As Colombia prepares for a presidential election, the leading candidate promises an aggressive approach to drug trafficking. This article examines whether military campaigns are the most effective way to stop the flow of narcotics from Latin America, particularly Colombia, which produces the majority of the world's cocaine. The analysis suggests that past strategies, such as aerial fumigation and military aid, have largely failed to curb cocaine production and have even fueled instability and human rights abuses.