Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BOGOTA12360
2004-12-02 22:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

COLOMBIANS CREATE NEW CARIBBEAN JOINT COMMAND FOR

Tags:  MARR PGOV CO 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 012360 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2014
TAGS: MARR PGOV CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIANS CREATE NEW CARIBBEAN JOINT COMMAND FOR
INTER-SERVICE COOPERATION

Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 012360

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2014
TAGS: MARR PGOV CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIANS CREATE NEW CARIBBEAN JOINT COMMAND FOR
INTER-SERVICE COOPERATION

Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) On November 17, the Colombian military (COLMIL)
announced the creation of a new joint command for the
Caribbean coastal region, designed to maximize the military's
assets in that area. The Caribbean Joint Command will cover
the area from La Guajira Department in northeast Colombia to
Choco Department bordering Panama in the northwest when it
becomes operational later this month. Major General Mario
Montoya Uribe, who gained fame as commander of the
counter-narcotics Joint Task Force South in southeastern
Colombia from 1999 to 2000, will direct the Caribbean Joint
Command while also remaining in command of the Army's First
Division. In his new role, Montoya will have operational
command over 40,000 Army troops from the Second, Fourth,
Tenth, Eleventh and Seventeenth Brigades; 10,000 sailors and
marines from the Caribbean Naval Force; and elements of the
Third and Fifth Air Combat Commands of the Colombian Air
Force. He will also have a stand-alone staff for the Joint
Command.


2. (C) The new Caribbean Joint Command builds off the
successes of Joint Task Force Omega. JTF-Omega's "Plan
Patriota" operations against the FARC in southeastern
Colombia have been among the best examples of joint
operations and cross-service cooperation in Colombia to date.
Although the Caribbean operations will differ from JTF-Omega
actions in that there will not be a single campaign with one
constant target, COLMIL officials hope that a joint command
will improve the coordination and effectiveness of the
COLMIL's Caribbean operations. Montoya's long-standing
military experience will probably aid him in establishing an
inter-service force and in improving the synchronization of
COLMIL resources in the north. Each service will still be
responsible for providing the resources and command structure
outside of joint command operations.


3. (C) COLMIL contacts said this experiment could lead to
further joint commands in other areas. While independent
commanders may chafe at the new command structure, it could
help improve missions and reduce the possibility of
inter-service rivalry.
WOOD