Interview
Why are so many Colombians becoming mercenaries? | The Economist
- Market Scale and Demand: The global mercenary market is expanding rapidly, with Colombia identified as a primary source; academics estimate approximately 10,000 Colombian nationals are currently fighting in foreign conflicts.
- Recruitment Channels: Social media platforms, specifically TikTok, are utilized to recruit soldiers through content featuring uniformed personnel highlighting high earnings, camaraderie, and a "war for freedom and justice" narrative.
- Mercenary Categories: Colombian soldiers in foreign conflicts generally fall into three distinct work categories:
- Low-risk security: Guarding compounds and oil rigs abroad.
- Criminal organizations: Joining armed groups for higher pay and higher risk.
- Active combat zones: Fighting in foreign wars, including Ukraine, Sudan's civil war, and Mexico's cartel violence.
- Drivers of Supply (Domestic Factors):
- Institutional Exit Cycles: A large cohort of soldiers is leaving the armed forces due to mandatory retirement ages (45) and service limits (20 years), alongside mandatory departures for those passed over for promotion.
- US Training Alignment: Colombian forces possess significant familiarity with NATO-standard weapons and field experience from domestic counter-guerrilla campaigns, making them cost-effective and easily deployable for international clients.
- Lack of Veteran Support: The absence of a comprehensive veterans policy means exiting soldiers lose institutional healthcare, insurance, and housing, with few domestic jobs rewarding military skills or offering retraining.
- Political Context and Exodus:
- Under President Gustavo Petro, formerly a guerrilla leader, relationships with the military have deteriorated; his "total peace" policy involves simultaneous negotiations with all armed groups and scaling back field operations.
- Approximately 13,000 soldiers are estimated to have voluntarily left the armed forces since Petro took power due to frustration with these strategic shifts.
- Diplomatic and Security Consequences for Colombia:
- Criminal Implications: Colombian citizens have been implicated in serious international crimes, including the 2021 assassination of Haiti's president and alleged involvement with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.
- Forced Apologies: The Colombian government was compelled to apologize to the Sudanese government last year regarding the involvement of its citizens.
- Child Soldier Allegations: Reports suggest Colombian networks are training child soldiers in conflict zones.
- Skill Transfer Risk: Concerns exist regarding Colombian mercenaries acquiring drone warfare skills in Ukraine that could subsequently be deployed in domestic gang violence.
- Government Response and Limitations:
- UN Convention Ratification: Colombia ratified the UN Anti-Mercenary Convention to align with international norms criminalizing recruitment and hiring.
- Enforcement Barriers: The convention is likely to have minimal impact because most mercenary-hiring nations have not ratified it, and international groups often disguise mercenary work as "training" or "security."
- Policy Recommendation: Experts suggest the most effective measure would be improving domestic veteran support and pensions to remove the economic and purpose-driven incentives for foreign service.
- Future Outlook: Mercenary activities by Colombian nationals are projected to continue increasing as long as foreign conflicts offer superior compensation, employment, and purpose compared to domestic options.