"Sword of Honour" was a large-scale military operation which was mobilised in early 2012, aimed at severely weakening the structure of the Colombian guerrilla group – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) – so that they would consider the peace process as the most viable way to end the conflict. The conflict against the FARC had been ongoing for nearly 50 years, and due to its nature, it was considered almost impossible to subdue the guerrillas through total war and defeat. Not only did Colombia's geography benefit the guerrillas' position, but the decades-long lack of state presence in certain areas made it difficult to envision a simple transition of power if the guerrilla forces were defeated. As presented by General Mejía, "Sword of Honour" was complex and multifaceted. It weakened the structure of the FARC by not only aggressively attacking enemy bases but also by targeting strategic units such as high-ranking leaders, especially those who were known to oppose peace negotiations, which in turn facilitated future peace talks. "Sword of Honour" also targeted networks of financing and lobbying against state interests internationally. General Mejía explained that family members, especially daughters of high-ranking FARC members, would be strategically sent to study abroad in countries known to support Colombian peace and economic development, such as Switzerland and Norway. Once there, they would lobby or find financing to support the guerrilla cause, to the detriment of Colombian state affairs. Ultimately, the targeting of this network, combined with intelligence efforts to disrupt financial operations, resulted in the weakening of the guerrilla.
The military operation managed to successfully navigate the challenges posed by Colombia's geography. Its leaders understood that to make real gains on the terrain, they had to adapt to the environment of different guerrilla strongholds. This led to the design of a multi-front strategy to strike hard and recover state-lost territory. For example, river, jungle, and high-mountain battalions were created, each equipped and trained with different tactics to strengthen the overall efficacy of the national army.
General Mejía also highlighted a key component of the government structure: the fact that the national police operate under the Ministry of Defence, rather than the Ministry of the Interior as in other countries. He argued that this arrangement proved beneficial, allowing for better communication and cooperation without bureaucratic hurdles that could hinder the operation's effectiveness. However, this statement may be controversial, as in 2020, the national police came under scrutiny for alleged human rights violations against protestors during a period of social unrest caused by the pandemic and economic instability. The opposition has called for police reform and the transfer of the institution to the Ministry of the Interior, arguing that its role within the Ministry of Defence is no longer necessary post-2016 peace accords. They contend that the police should focus on law enforcement, state-building, and peacebuilding, rather than maintaining a heavy militaristic approach.
General Mejía emphasised that the military advancements of "Sword of Honour" were only part of the solution. Reclaiming territory was meaningless without parallel efforts to rebuild state presence and address the needs of local populations. Commanders tasked with civilian governance often lacked the resources and expertise required to ensure long-term stability. Reintegrating these regions demanded a comprehensive approach: restoring institutions, investing in education, building infrastructure, and promoting sustainable agriculture. For communities heavily reliant on coca cultivation, a practice introduced during the guerrilla's dominance, alternative livelihoods had to be developed. This state-building effort was as crucial as the military campaign, serving to prevent the resurgence of guerrilla influence and foster trust between the government and its citizens.
The Colombian Peace Process, according to General Mejía, did prove beneficial, marking a significant milestone in Colombian history by achieving peace with the largest guerrilla group involved in the civil conflict. While strengthening Colombia's military capabilities and geopolitical situation has led the country to be recognised as a NATO partner and a major non-NATO ally of the US, it is true that since 2016 Colombia has improved its international image and experienced an increase in international tourism. This is perceived as a positive outcome of the process, in addition to the fact that regions formerly under guerrilla control now show great economic potential, which could contribute to long-term economic development.
Nevertheless, General Mejía warned about the upcoming peace talks with the remaining guerrilla and illegal groups operating within Colombian territory. He cautioned that while "Sword of Honour" was successful in dealing with the FARC, it should not be blindly replicated. The originality of the approach towards the FARC was key to its success. For the new government to be successful, any military operations it develops must be based on originality and a case-by-case approach; each faction in the conflict requires a specific type of operation. The government's idea of "Total Peace" is ambitious and needs to be reassessed to ensure its efficiency and benefits, as involving all factions into one peace deal may not be ideal.
To conclude, General Mejía's talk was insightful, not only by increasing my knowledge about a topic that is important to me, but also by broadening my understanding of the peace talks and the conflict. A key takeaway is that conflicts, whether international or domestic, in the 21st century, are complex due to globalisation. Therefore, as a first-year International Relations student, I realise a comprehensive approach is needed to find solutions to contemporary conflicts. This was evident in the success of the "Sword of Honour" military operation, which lay in its ability to effectively utilise intelligence, employ a decentralised approach to battalion deployment, and understand the importance of building post-conflict communities with a strong state presence. Likewise, General Mejía’s talk made it clear to me as a Colombian student that the peace process and the "Sword of Honour" military operation showcase the political and socio-economic repercussions that the country has had throughout its history.
Events of this nature, led by the department, are a valuable part of my learning experience, directly connecting what we learn in the classroom with real-life examples and expert insights. It was particularly interesting to gain more context on the FARC guerrilla group after studying them in a lecture on Contemporary Security Issues focused on terrorism. This fireside chat provided unique insight into the final days of the guerrilla group and how they were led to sign the peace accords, in part due to the "Sword of Honour" operation. This ability to engage with high-calibre speakers from military and diplomatic backgrounds is a distinctive feature of the Department of War Studies at King's, adding significant value to the academic journey by bringing the complexities of Security Studies to life in a way that goes far beyond any textbook.