Building the blood-sealed relationship forged during the Korean War, Colombia and Korea marked a milestone of future defense cooperation with Colombia’s top military official visiting Korea last week.

Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon visited for a three-day trip to meet Korean counterpart Han Min-koo and sign a memorandum of understanding geared at joint exercises, training exchange, intelligence sharing and humanitarian relief.

With progress in the peace process launched in 2012 to end half a century of conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, the defense chief promoted his country’s enhanced security environment for foreign investors.

“My visit was about recognizing our achievements so far and creating a framework for future cooperation,” Pinzon told The Korea Herald at the Colombian Embassy in Seoul on Thursday. “It would be fair to say that the last five years of our defense collaboration have borne more fruitful results than the last 50 years combined.”

Colombia and Korea began strengthening military cooperation in recent years that included vice-ministerial visits and MOUs being signed, transfer of a warship, and participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. 

Colombia was the only South American country to dispatch troops to the Korean War (1950-53) as part of the United Nations Forces. Of more than 5,300 Colombian soldiers who fought, 131 men died in combat, 476 were injured and 69 went missing.

Pinzon expressed being impressed by Korea’s miraculous development from the ruins of the war, affirming his government’s determination to follow suit.

“Due to our history of violence and conflict with guerilla groups,” he said, “Colombia’s defense ministry became the most important outlet for exercising public policy.”

Combating one of the bloodiest and longest insurgencies in modern history, the administration under President Juan Manuel Santos has made critical inroads into the peace process, the minister pointed out.

The negotiations underway in Cuba led to three of the five points in the agenda being signed: land reforms to boost agricultural production, political participation of FARC members and counternarcotics policies. The more difficult parts remain with confiscating weapons and compensating victims.

According to the New York Times, the process has reached a “make-or-break” phase ― the ultimate success hinging upon “the willingness of Colombians to make tough compromises” with the guerilla organization.

The Times credited President Santos for making strides in the deal, noting that reported incidents of violence dropped from over 2,000 in 2013 to less than 1,200 last year.

With improved political stability and public security, the Colombian economy’s growth has surpassed 4 percent annually for the last decade, one of the fastest rates in Latin America. Foreign direct investment rushed into Colombia, with spikes in 2011 ($13.4 billion) and 2012 ($15.8 billion), according to the World Bank.

“We were only able to reach this stage by the combined success of our military and police, who put together their strategy, sacrifice and heroism,” Pinzon said. “We can now devote efforts into noncombat areas like development, environment protection, border security, joint training and exercise, international peacekeeping and peace-building operations.”

Pinzon invited Korean companies to participate in modernization programs through joint venture projects, training and technology transfer for the country’s 420,000-strong military and law enforcement.

In return, “Colombia stands ready to share our expertise in counterterrorism and conflict management to help relieve tensions with North Korea,” he said.

The 43-year-old wunderkind from Bogota is the youngest defense minister in Colombian history. He has an extensive background in economics, finance and public policy, having studied at Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University in the U.S.

Colombia has relatively young ministers compared to other governments: Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin, 51; Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas Santa Maria, 52; Information Communication Technology Minister Diego Molano Vega, 47; and Education Minister Gina Maria Parody, 41.

The trend of young leaders in office is not exclusive to the Santos administration, Pinzon said, explaining, “As a result of our conflict-ridden life, young Colombians have long been drawn to the public sphere with zeal.”

“Under such circumstances,” he added, “It’s natural for people to search for ways to help, support and change the country. This energy has actually changed our country.”

Pinzon put ministers’ first-rate academic credentials in the limelight, pointing out they helped steer government politics and policies in a progressive direction.

The minister’s own experience at the World Bank, Finance Ministry, Colombian Banking Association and Citigroup proved instrumental in economizing the defense budget.

“Defense is as much about economics as politics of security and order,” Pinzon said. “To move massive resources, train personnel and update equipment, a modern military requires an integrative strategy combing public policy, private investment and social initiative, recognizing that peace cannot be made by force only.”

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)