Frontera colombo-brasilera: persistencia del conflicto armado y alcances de las estrategias de seguridad

Reviewing the Colombian conflict evolution (1998-2011), it is possible to confirm the armed groups’ relocation on border zones in order to guar-antee their survival. By considering this trend, the main purpose of this article is to discuss the accuracy of Colombia and Brazil strategies to re-spond the negative effects of this shift. In spite of their progress in terms of security border policies, both countries underestimate the strategic value of their shared frontier and the importance of reinforcing their security cooperation. According to several studies about border’s role in national and international conflicts, this situation needs special awareness. In particular, the use of border zones by rebels, on the one hand, allows a prolongation of war, and on the other hand, facilitates the spoilage of diplomatic relations when neighboring states don’t have a common security strategy. In this way, the armed groups’ presence in border areas becomes a challenge in the bilateral agenda, especially when geographical studies bear out the continuity of violent events. Hence, it is imperative to evaluate the suitability of Colombia and Brazil strategies to enhance their security and to facilitate a conflict resolution.