Colombian cartels seek drone warfare expertise from Ukraine

Drug cartels and rebel groups in Colombia are trying to gain advanced knowledge about using drones in warfare, while authorities warn that experience gained by some fighters in Ukraine could change the way armed groups in the country operate.

According to security officials, several Colombian nationals who participated in the fighting in Ukraine are suspected of returning home with new knowledge on the military use of drones, including aerial surveillance tactics, drone strikes and the use of cheap technologies for combat operations.

Colombian authorities worry that these capabilities could be passed on to criminal organizations and illegal armed groups, making them more capable of striking security forces, monitoring army movements, and evading operations against them.

The widespread use of drones in the war in Ukraine has shown that these devices can be used as powerful military tools at relatively low cost. Experts say the technology has lowered the barriers for non-state groups seeking capabilities similar to those of regular armies.

For decades, the Colombian military has relied on air superiority and specialized reconnaissance to support its operations against rebels and drug cartels. Officials warn that the spread of drone warfare could challenge that advantage.

Colombia has long faced armed groups, including organizations linked to drug trafficking and rebel structures that have continued to operate even after the peace agreement with the FARC in 2016.

Security experts estimate that the spread of drone technology poses one of the new challenges for security forces around the world, as equipment that was once mainly available to advanced armies can now be adapted by small armed groups. /Telegraph/