The U.S. will provide $86.2 million in assistance for 2013 for Central America, down from the $100 million approved for 2012.
Stunned by the March elections and the beginning of the electoral campaign for 2014, El Salvador does not notice that it is in the midst of a diplomatic offensive of the U.S. government, which is working on the function of its own national security and has also as an objective to prepare the Central American countries for the Summit of the Americas, to be held in Colombia next month. It is no coincidence that within eight days, two U.S officials of the highest administrative level have visited Central America.
The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, urged “a war against drug trafficking” during her visit, and Tony Blinken, the national security adviser to United States Vice President Joe Biden, said, “Both in Mexico as well as in Honduras the vice president will discuss preparations for the upcoming Summit of the Americas.”
Biden’s visit highlights the clear interest of the United States in the region; no wonder, since over 100 tons of drugs are mobilized through Honduras by land, sea and air to neighboring Central American countries, where drug trafficking networks are responsible for transporting them to Mexico and the United States.
Without a doubt the president of Guatemala, retired Gen. Otto Perez Molina, will look forward to lobbying Biden about the decriminalization of drugs over lunch, but in this case we must be absolutely clear: “There is no possibility that the Obama administration will change its policy on narcotics.” President Funes also repeated over and over again that “[t]he Salvadoran government is not in favor of the decriminalization of drugs, or in turning Central America into a haven for drug consumption.” Funes insists that he disagrees with the measure and he has never agreed.
In addition, Funes is openly opposed to Otto Perez opening the debate and does not feel that the proposed drug decriminalization will be addressed at the meeting of representatives. “I understand that the agenda only includes the relationship between the U.S. and Central America, in economic, security and cooperation issues that can keep bringing the U.S. administration to combat organized crime and drug trafficking.”
What Biden will surely inform the Central American presidents in Honduras is that the budget proposal for 2013 that Barack Obama provides to Latin America to combat drug trafficking submitted to Congress included cuts of $92 million and $5 million in military assistance.
The total request for the war on drugs was $476 million, less than the estimated $568 million in 2012, while the proposed funds for social welfare and development are located at $434 million, less than the $466 million estimated in 2012.
In the case of Central America, the U.S. expected an attendance of $86.2 million for 2013, unlike the $100 million approved for 2012 through one of the components, the Central America Regional Safety, which together cover about $200 million.
It also reduces the counter-narcotics program in Guatemala that could directly receive $2 million, a significant decrease from the $5 million in 2012.
One consolation for the Central American presidents is that in addition, the Defense Department also has programs through which aid is channeled to the region.
The message from the U.S. administration to the region after Biden’s visit will be very clear. Number one: the reaffirmation of the commitment to continue working together in areas of security in terms of stopping the flow of drugs transiting to the U.S.; number two: there will be less aid money from the U.S. against drug trafficking; and three: forget that the debate about the decriminalization of drugs will succeed at the next Summit of the Americas.