Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich recently visited El Salvador’s CECOT “Mega Prison” to learn about the country’s successful crime-fighting strategies, which have reduced gang violence and homicide rates. The visit comes after Argentina expressed its intention to adopt and implement its own version of El Salvador’s “Bukele model” to combat crime.
El Salvador has been under a state of emergency since March 2022 to combat gang violence, which has been exacerbated by the nation’s largest criminal organizations. Bullrich praised El Salvador’s efforts, saying that the country has transformed from one of the world’s most dangerous nations to a safer place where families can live in peace.
“We are going from a country taken over by violence, drug trafficking, and gangs that murdered 150,000 Salvadorans to one of the safest countries in the world,” Bullrich said in a social media post. “This is the way. Tough on criminals. Freedom for the good Argentines.”
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has been a key partner in Argentina’s efforts to combat crime, and representatives from both countries have increased dialogue on security issues this year. Bukele has offered to share El Salvador’s security strategies with Argentina, which he believes can be adapted to address Argentina’s own crime and gang violence issues.
The security collaboration with El Salvador is expected to be technical in nature, with no plans for Salvadoran security forces to participate in Argentine territory.
