Evan Ellis - A Preliminary Look from Washington at Colombia’s New Direction and Security Challenges
Dear Colleague,
I am writing to share my new work, “A Preliminary Look from Washington at Colombia’s New Direction and Security Challenges,” just published by Seguridad y Poder Terrestre, the journal of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Peruvian Army (CEEEP).
The discourse of the new administration of Gustavo Petro in Colombia, in the context of significant security, economic, fiscal and other challenges has generated considerable uncertainty both in Colombia and in Washington, the country’s longstanding partner. Nonetheless, the deliberate pace (if sometimes uneven manner) with which the Petro Administration is proceeding with its change agenda, and the demonstrated willingness of Washington to find a path to engage with the new administration on its sovereign terms, suggest a more complex, less alarming reality—albeit still filled with considerable risks.
The current article was written in early September, before the visit to Colombia by U.S. Secretary State Blinken, and before some of the administration’s announcements on tax policy, narcotics policy, and the formal beginning of negotiations with the ELN, but its conclusions arguably still hold.
This article will be followed in the coming weeks by more detailed, extensive works on Colombia’s security environment, the response of its Armed Forces to the President’s “human security” orientated direction, the evolution of the China-Colombia relationship, and the prospects under the Petro government (thanks to the generous time and insights of many Colombian colleagues, including the impressive information and professionalism of the Colombo-China Chamber of Commerce).
The present article is available here for download in English:
And in Spanish at:
It is also available through the Center for Strategic Studies of the Peruvian Army (CEEEP) in English:
https://revistas.ceeep.mil.pe/index.php/seguridad-y-poder-terrestre/article/view/16/24
And in Spanish at:
https://revistas.ceeep.mil.pe/index.php/seguridad-y-poder-terrestre/article/view/16/23
Podcasts
I would also like to call your attention to my weekly hour-long radio session on the John Batchelor Show, “The New World Report.” It is my in-depth interpretation, with John Batchelor, of contemporary events occurring across the region each week. Other regular guests on the program discussing contemporary issues of the region include Colombian Senator Maria Fernanda Cabral, former Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, and Joseph Humire. The latest episodes are available as podcasts at:
https://audioboom.com/posts/8169285-newworldreport-prisoner-exchange-and-its-discontents-latin-american-research-professor-evan-ell
https://audioboom.com/posts/8169286-newworldreport-blinken-to-the-leftist-oas-latin-american-research-professor-evan-ellis-u-s
https://audioboom.com/posts/8169287-newworldreport-meeting-uruguay-latin-american-research-professor-evan-ellis-u-s-army-war-col
The John Batchelor Show / #NewWorldReport: Lula to the second Round confidently. Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @revanellis (audioboom.com)
Website for all Publications:
I would also like to note my professional website where you can access the present, and all of my past publications, as well as select webinars and podcasts:
https://revanellis.com/
Book on China-Latin America:
And, of course, my latest book, China Engages Latin America: Distorting Development and Democracy, is available through my publisher Palgrave-Macmillan, at:
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-96049-0
Please feel free to share this post with a friend or colleague. If you would like to be included in my (always free) distribution list, I welcome the opportunity to include you:
Thank you, as always, for your interest in my work.
Respectfully,
R. Evan Ellis, PhD
Latin America Research Professor
U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute
@REvanEllis
Website: https://revanellis.com