	Plan Colombia and the Andean Counterdrug Initiative

Plan Colombia was developed by former President Pastrana (1998-2002) as a six-year planto end the country's 40-year old armed conflict, eliminate drug trafficking, and promote economicand social development. (1) 
The Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI) is the primary U.S. program that supports PlanColombia, as well as assistance to other nations in the Andean region. In addition to ACI funding,Colombia also benefits from the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, and the Departmentof Defense's central counternarcotics account. ACI funding for Plan Colombia from FY2000 through FY2005 totalsapproximately $2.8 billion. When FMF and DOD assistance is included, the total level of U.S.support to Colombia is $4.5 billion. Because Plan Colombia is a six-year plan that expired at the end of 2005, Congress has beenand will likely continue assessing its progress in light of the Administration request to continue ACIfunding, the latter having no statutory end-date. The House bill, as well as some individual Members of Congress, expressed the opinion thatthe ratio between alternative development and interdiction should be more balanced. Objectives

The objectives of Colombia and the United States for Plan Colombia differ in some aspects,although there is a significant overlap of goals. The primary U.S. objective is to prevent the flowof illegal drugs into the United States, as well as to help Colombia promote peace and economicdevelopment because it contributes to regional security in the Andes. (2) The primary objectives ofColombia are to promote peace and economic development, and increase security. (3) 
The objectives of each country have evolved over time. U.S. policy has also evolved from a strictly counternarcotics focus to support for Colombia'sfight against IAGs. Assessment of Key Objectives and Issues

		Drug Flows to the United States

After many years of stable prices, purity, and availability of cocaine and heroin in the UnitedStates, prices for both drugs have increased in 2005, whereas purity and availability have decreased. Despite some expectations that U.S. support forPlan Colombia would end, or begin to decrease in FY2006, U.S. and Colombian officials haveargued that significant progress has been made, but that more needs to be done. There has been measurable progress in Colombia's internal security, as measured bydecreases in violence, and in the eradication of drug crops. Military operations againstillegally armed groups have intensified, but the main leftist guerrilla group has neither been defeated,nor brought closer to wanting to enter peace negotiations.
Plan Colombia was developed by former President Pastrana (1998-2002) as a six-year planto end Colombia's long armed conflict, eliminate drug trafficking, and promote economic and socialdevelopment. The Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI) is the primary U.S. program that supportsPlan Colombia. In addition, Colombia receives assistance from the Foreign Military Financing(FMF) program and the Department of Defense's central counternarcotics account. ACI funding forPlan Colombia from FY2000 through FY2005 totals approximately $2.8 billion. When FMF andDOD assistance is included, the total level of U.S. support to Colombia is $4.5 billion. Congressapproved the Administration's request to continue support for Plan Colombia beyond FY2005, butit also expressed the need for an evaluation of progress and a plan for future years.
The objectives of Colombia and the United States differ in some aspects, although there isa significant overlap of goals. The primary U.S. objective is to prevent the flow of illegal drugs intothe United States, as well as to help Colombia promote peace and economic development becauseit contributes to regional security in the Andes. The primary objectives of Colombia are to promotepeace and economic development, increase security, and end drug trafficking. Both U.S. andColombian objectives have also evolved over time from a strict counternarcotics focus to encompasscounterterrorism activities.
Because Plan Colombia is a six-year plan that expired at the end of 2005, Congress has beenand will likely continue assessing its progress in light of the Administration's request to continuefunding the ACI account, the latter having no statutory end-date. Congress has expressed theexpectation that funding would begin to decrease in FY2006. Some Members have also expressedthe opinion that the ratio between interdiction and alternative development should become morebalanced, and that the U.S. role should diminish as Colombia develops more operational capabilities.
Measurable progress in Colombia's internal security has been made, as indicated by decreasesin violence and the eradication of drug crops. After many years of stable prices, purity, andavailability of cocaine and heroin in the United States, prices for both drugs have increased, whereaspurity and availability have decreased. Military operations against illegally armed groups haveintensified, but the main leftist guerrilla group seems no closer to agreeing to a cease-fire. Thedemobilization of rightist paramilitary fighters is proceeding, but its is doing so amid controversywith regard to its implementation.
For more information on Colombia and the Andean Counterdrug Initiative, see CRS Report RL32250 , Colombia: Issues for Congress ; CRS Report RL32337 Andean Counterdrug Initiative(ACI) and Related Funding Programs: FY2005 Assistance ; and CRS Report RL33163 , Drug CropEradication and Alternative Development in the Andes , all by [author name scrubbed]. This report will beupdated as new data become available.