Environmental Security and International Cooperation: The Case of the Colombian National Navy

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of the Colombian National Navy (ARC) in environmental security, with particular attention to how international cooperation strengthens its operational capabilities and can catalyze a shift toward integrated and multisectoral governance. Based on an exploratory qualitative comparative study using secondary data and triangulation of information from official statistics, institutional reports, press releases, relevant regulations, and academic literature, three representative cases in different regions are examined: the Amazon (Operation BRACOLPER), the Caribbean (Seaflower Biosphere Reserve), and the Pacific (the fight against illegal fishing). These cases, selected according to criteria of geographic and ecological representativeness, diversity of threats, and modalities of international cooperation, provide solid evidence that international collaboration significantly enhances the ARC’s ability to mitigate transnational environmental threats by providing critical resources, intelligence, and joint operational frameworks. Regarding its impact on institutional adaptation toward comprehensive governance models, the results are more ambivalent and depend on the structure of cooperation and its explicit intention to integrate civilian and community actors. It is concluded that, while international cooperation is vital for operational success, it must be strategically designed to facilitate a broader transition from militarized responses to a sustainable and comprehensive model of environmental governance.