The operation of the Colombian armed forces’ Black Hawk helicopter fleet, as well as the National Police, is seriously threatened by the suspension of US government funding following trade sanctions imposed by the White House.
An executive order by President Donald Trump has reevaluated overseas military assistance and the US government has ordered a freeze on funding that supported the operations of these helicopters in Colombia.
Therefore, the Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid freezes for three months financial assistance to the Colombian government’s military operations regarding the use of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
There are currently 32 helicopters loaned by the US for use by the Air Force, National Army and National Police in combating drug trafficking and counterinsurgency, as is the case in the Catatumbo region, near Venezuela.
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At least 12 aircraft would be used by the Colombian National Army, while the remaining 20 units operate with the National Police in combating criminal and paramilitary organizations in the country’s forests.
Backbone of Colombian forces
The Black Hawk is the backbone of Colombian forces, since many conflict zones and others where they carry out operations against drug traffickers are difficult to access by land.
For this reason, the versatility of the UH-60 is vital to maintaining such operations, but with part of the fleet on the ground, unable to fly due to financial constraints, the risk to Colombia’s national security is high.
With 53 aircraft, Colombia currently operates one of the largest fleets of Black Hawk helicopters in the world.
However, the US government funds all logistical and technical support for the Black Hawks in Colombia, including the training of crews abroad.
All of this has been suspended by the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, which has suspended payments to the private contractors who support such services, according to the Bogotá newspaper The City Paper.
To make matters worse, the Soviet-made Mil Mi-17 helicopters remain grounded due to maintenance issues.
Colombia has 19 of these aircraft, which are now unable to assist the country’s three forces in their internal security missions.
