How did Colombia defeat the FARC—and what can other democracies learn from its experience?

In Part 2 of my conversation with General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero, former Commander of the Colombian Armed Forces, we continue our examination of counterinsurgency, national resilience and the long campaign that transformed Colombia’s security environment.

We begin with Colombia’s enduring urban-rural divide, and the way geography, uneven development and weak state presence helped shape decades of internal conflict. General Mejía then explains how the Colombian state adapted its military, political and institutional approach to weaken and ultimately defeat the FARC as a strategic force.

Our discussion also covers:

• The historical development of Colombia
• The military and political campaign against the FARC
• The continuing threat posed by the ELN
• Venezuela’s support for armed groups
• Security along the Colombia-Venezuela border
• Regional security cooperation in Latin America
• The credibility of US defence of the Western Hemisphere
• The democratisation of drone warfare after Ukraine
• How General Mejía would prepare the Colombian military today
• America’s difficult relationship with counterinsurgency warfare
• The impact of Venezuelan refugees on Colombia

This is not simply a discussion about Colombia. It is a wider examination of how democracies confront insurgency, restore state authority and convert battlefield success into lasting strategic outcomes.

Show Notes:

About General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero is a retired Colombian Army officer who served as Commander of the Colombian Army and later as General Commander of Colombia’s Armed Forces. During his military career, he held senior operational and strategic appointments during Colombia’s campaign against the FARC and other illegal armed groups. Following his retirement from military service, he served as Colombia’s Ambassador to Australia. His career provides a rare perspective on counterinsurgency, military transformation, strategic leadership, civil-military relations and the changing security environment of Latin America.

Glossary:

ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) in English - the National Liberation Army

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