COLUMN | From Public Security to National Security

Latin America is at a turning point where transnational organized crime—primarily drug trafficking—confronts a disorganized state surrounded by a frightened civil society. It is no coincidence that the region has the highest number of kidnappings and violent cities in the world, as well as the highest homicide rates globally. This is a threat that not only grows but also evolves dangerously.

Chile has not escaped this reality, as surveys indicate that organized crime and drug trafficking are identified as the main sources of concern. Additionally, other crimes such as extortion, human trafficking, and smuggling of various types (wood, copper, fish, etc.) must be included, constituting a true portfolio of illegal activities.

To expand their illicit activities, criminal organizations seek to corrupt state institutions through corruption and gradually undermine the effective sovereignty of the state as the primary provider of security, development, and welfare. It is particularly in the empty spaces where they settle and strengthen. When this occurs, the problem moves from the realm of public security to the domain of national security, where the state faces the obligation to employ all available instruments of power, starting with adequately controlling borders, designing a robust intelligence system, and optimizing security institutions to act permanently and effectively. This, without a doubt, will not eliminate criminal activities entirely, but it will reduce their chances of success.

Among the few consensuses observed today in Chile, one clear point is the existence of a security crisis, which should be leveraged to create a national security architecture. This is the responsibility of the government, but also of civil society and all citizens acting in concert.