The US State Department’s proposed 2013 budget will reduce military and anti-drug aid to Latin America, including to the traditional largest recipients, Colombia and Mexico.
US military and police aid for Latin America and the Caribbean will total $946 million for the 2013 fiscal year, according to a database kept by Just the Facts. This is a cut of about 10 percent from 2012.
Of this, $432.4 million will come from the US State Department, according to the proposed budget. This includes $155 million for Colombia and $35 million for Mexico.
InSight Crime Analysis
US military and police funding for Latin America has been declining since 2010. One of the most notable cutbacks in aid has been to Colombia, which, according to El Tiempo, has seen a 50 percent drop in funds over the past five years. The US State Department has stated that this drop is meant to reflect security progress made in the South American country.
Some countries in the region have looked elsewhere for counterdrug assistance. Brazil in particular has increased its security and counterdrug aid to Bolivia.