In a military ceremony held at the facilities of the Medium Combined Arms Task Force, the platform of ASV 4x4 armored vehicles was distributed, which will strengthen national security tasks in the border areas.
The U.S. government distributed 20 reconnaissance vehicles to the Colombian Army, which are part of the 145 that will be transferred in the first half of 2022.
The minister of National Defence, Diego Molano Aponte, received from the hands of the U.S. ambassador in Colombia, Philip Seth Goldberg, the keys of the 20 vehicles ASV M1117, transferred by the Government of that nation to the National Army of Colombia; these vehicles will be distributed to the tactical units that exert sovereignty in the border territories.
Thanks to the international cooperation conducted by two countries, the new fleet of vehicles will support from today the tasks of mobility and maneuver, to strengthen security and national defense and increase institutional work in regions such as La Guajira, Norte de Santander and Arauca.
In his speech, the Minister of Defense said that this cooperation effort will led the National Army to continue fulfilling its mission of guaranteeing both mobility on the roads and the tranquility of communities, so that the productive sector and citizens can carried out their activities and continue with the economic reactivation that Colombia requires.
"These new Resources mean nothing more and nothing less than strengthening Colombia's security. A safer democracy means a protected economy and lives saved along this border area," the Defense Minister said.
For his part, the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia, Phillip Goldberg, celebrated the distribution of the first 20 armored vehicles out of 145 that will be distributed to the Colombian Army, “This is just one of many examples of how the U.S. Government stands shoulder to shoulder with the Government of Colombia, to strengthen military Resources, to face threats and achieve common goals.”
The ASV 4x4 M1117 vehicles count on their technology, maneuverability, interoperability, firepower and high mobility; this fleet carries out reconnaissance in difficult and extensive terrain, in less time, they in the same way have armored capacity to guarantee protection to their crew.
The head of the Ministry of Defense said that the vehicles will led better control of illegal activities that have been occurring at the border; such as trafficking in explosives, weapons and ammunition, which generate instability.
"This transfer will contribute to the protection and security of the Colombian State, of all its strategic resources, the inhabitants, and of the troops themselves, which require an effort to strengthen their Resources.”
Accompanied by the General Commander of the Military Forces and the commander of the National Army, the Minister said that the process of strengthening and repowering these equipment will in the same way have better equipped troops and soldiers who fulfill their mission in the border area to face the threats of drug trafficking and transnational crimes.
“The illegal armed groups, the Eln and the dissidents of the Farc, must know that their plans to attack our soldiers, or to frighten the inhabitants and to generate displacement, will be fought with more strength, because Colombia deserves some Military Forces as these we now begin to be transported along these roads from border, to ensure peace, security, progress and wellbeing which are required at this stage of reactivation,” concluded Molano.
Source: press-National Army