Defense Minister Diego Molano met with his Panamanian counterpart in Bogotá.
In a meeting with the Minister of Public Security of the Republic of Panama, Juan Manuel Pino Forero, the Minister of Defense of Colombia, Diego Molano Aponte, assured that the fight against transnational crime on the common border has been strengthening thanks to bilateral dialogue and the effective implementation of cooperation mechanisms.
This security strengthening operation is carried out based on the definition of common interests in defense matters that both nations have for the benefit of their citizens, supported by the Military Forces, said Minister Molano.
The coordination of binational strategies against transnational crime, such as drug trafficking, illicit mineral extraction, smuggling, migrant trafficking, human trafficking, and crimes against the environment, has been possible thanks to the permanent dialogue and the exchange of information framed in the different confidence-building mechanisms conducted by Panama and Colombia.
“We have concluded this binational meeting whose purpose was to deepen and extend the joint work of our Military and police Forces on the border with this country; we are working on a coordinated effort to combat drug trafficking and environmental crimes,” said the head of the Ministry of Defense.
The Binational Border Group COMBIFRON, and the permanent meetings conducted by our military and police commanders at the border make this shared region a safe zone for citizens, confirmed the Minister of security of Panama, Juan Manuel Pino.
It is emphasized that the common border has, as a result of its rugged topography and geopolitical value, a permanent network of different security threats, which mutate at great speed. That is why progress has been made in the materialization of coordinated operations, achieving high-impact results.
“As of March 31, 2022, the threat of 11 members of the structures of the Organized Armed Groups, GAOs: Eln and the Clan del Golfo, in this area have been neutralized, including demobilized, arrested and killed in the course of military operations,” Minister Molano said.
Finally, at present, Colombia and Panama maintain permanent cooperation aimed at combating transnational organized crime and the multiple common threats that damage the border area.
In this regard, both nations maintain a close relationship of intelligence cooperation, humanitarian demining and military industry. In the same way, it is expected to deepen other areas in the field of national security.
Source: Defense Sector Communications Office - Ministry of National Defense
