Why are so many Colombians becoming mercenaries? | The Economist

Colombia is rapidly emerging as a primary global source of mercenaries driven by a cohort of 13,000 soldiers exiting the military under President Gustavo Petro's policies combined with a lack of domestic veteran support. These former soldiers are increasingly recruited via social media to serve in high-risk foreign conflicts ranging from Sudan to Ukraine, while their deployment facilitates serious international crimes such as the assassination of Haiti's president. Although Colombia ratified the UN Anti-Mercenary Convention, experts argue that without comprehensive domestic pension reforms, the economic incentives for this growing export of armed labor will remain unchecked.