Colombia faces escalating conflict as drones are used by militias and government forces

Colombia is experiencing an escalation in conflict as the government of President Abelardo de la Espriella shifts toward violent confrontation with guerrilla militant groups. Moving away from the ‘Total Peace’ strategy of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, de la Espriella has adopted a hardline approach to organized crime, promising militants either prison or death.

The conflict has been transformed by the increasing use of unmanned drones. These devices are being utilized by both government security forces and cocaine-funded militias to operate near major drug trafficking corridors in the Amazon rainforest.

Conflict monitor ACLED reports that the presence of drones has had a significant psychological impact on local populations. Tiziano Breda, a regional expert at ACLED, noted that even when civilians are not directly targeted, the constant sound of drones has become “traumatising” for those living in the region.