Colombia has announced the immediate launch of a national counter-drone defence shield after US military strikes targeted Venezuelan air-defence systems, triggering heightened security alerts across northern South America. The $1.6bn programme will create a nationwide network to detect, track and neutralise hostile drones over border regions, critical infrastructure, international airports and major cities, representing the largest investment in Colombian airspace security in the country’s history. This is reported by The WP Times , citing Defence Blog.
The project, formally valued at 6.2 trillion Colombian pesos (around $1.6bn), will be implemented through a multi-layered architecture combining early-warning sensors, electronic-warfare systems, physical interceptors and a centralised command-and-control platform, according to Colombia’s Ministry of Defence. The system is designed to counter both military-grade UAVs and improvised drones, which regional security agencies say are increasingly used by both state and non-state actors.
Defence officials said the decision was taken under an accelerated national-security procedure after US strikes destroyed or degraded Venezuela’s surface-to-air missile and radar installations, altering the regional military balance and raising concerns about airspace violations, spillover risks and cross-border drone activity.
The programme is being rolled out in phases. The first stage will begin on 16 January with closed consultations involving international defence companies and government delegations, after which suppliers will be selected. Deployment across Colombia will follow in stages, with full funding already secured under the 2026 national defence budget, officials said.
The anti-drone shield is intended to protect energy facilities, transport hubs, government buildings, border crossings and civilian aviation, sectors that defence planners say have become increasingly vulnerable as cheap, long-range and GPS-guided drones spread across the region.
Trump’s remarks and regional tensions
The announcement comes after the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by US forces, which sharply escalated tensions across Latin America. US President Donald Trump subsequently stated that Washington could pursue strategic or territorial operations in several countries in the region, explicitly including Colombia.
Trump has also mentioned Mexico, Cuba and other Latin American states, without clarifying whether any action would be military, economic or political, creating uncertainty among regional governments.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro responded by saying that his country was prepared to defend its sovereignty against any external pressure or intervention. He stressed that Colombia’s armed forces operate strictly under constitutional authority and that he had already ordered a tightening of border controls, counter-narcotics operations and national security readiness.
Read about the life of Westminster and Pimlico district, London and the world. 24/7 news with fresh and useful updates on culture, business, technology and city life: Will Britain’s Nightfall ballistic missiles give Ukraine the ability to strike 500 km targets
Colombian troops prepare components of the country’s new national counter-drone shield, a $1.6bn project designed to protect national airspace. (Colombian Ministry of Defence)
