Forward Operating Locations
ONDCP FACT SHEET
Overview
Forward Operating Locations (FOLs) play a crucial role in permitting U.S. and allied nation interdiction aircraft to be forward deployed closer to cocaine departure points in the source zone. They also underscore the multilateral approach to combating the drug problem. With the closure of Howard Air Force Base in Panama in 1997, the establishment of FOLs within the source and transit zones is critical to our ability to implement the National Drug Control Strategy. The United States Government (USG) negotiated long-term agreements for FOLs at Aruba-Curacao, Netherland Antilles; Manta, Ecuador; and Comalapa, El Salvador to compensate for the loss of the runway at Howard Air Force Base. These FOLs support host nation and interagency drug interdiction efforts throughout the source and transit zones.
Development of FOLs
The FOLs are not full scale bases-rather, they are built on existing airfields that, with some modifications, allow US detection and monitoring (D&M) aircraft consistent access to the region. Agreements with the host nations specify which missions may be flown from the FOLs and also authorize Host Nation Riders to fly aboard U.S. aircraft to facilitate in-flight coordination with host nation authorities during operational missions. Some FOLs, such as Manta, Ecuador, required extensive U.S.-funded modifications and upgrades, to ensure that airfield and support facilities, as well as force protection levels, meet U.S. standards for safe operation by deployed aircraft and personnel. With the absence of Howard AFB, these FOLs allow the U.S. to effectively maintain its surveillance footprint in the eastern Pacific, the Caribbean, and South America.
Caribbean FOL (Aruba-Curacao, The Netherlands Antilles)
Aruba-Curacao provides effective, rapid response operations in the northern source zone, which includes the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia and the Venezuelan border region, as well as a large part of the transit zone. The location provides United States, Dutch, and United Kingdom Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) quick access to Caribbean drug smuggling corridors, where U.S., U.K., French, and Dutch surface vessels are positioned to help interdict air and maritime drug trafficking targets. The formal 10-year access agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands was signed in March 2000 and the Netherlands' parliament ratified the agreement in October 2001. Both FOLs required minor construction improvements to include aircraft parking ramps, maintenance, and operations buildings. Counterdrug flights were made from these locations even as improvements were being made. To date, the Aruba FOL has seen limited improvement and use while the Curacao FOL has received all required improvements to include ramp space for two large, two medium, and six small aircraft, a fresh water rise facility, a maintenance hangar, and an operations building.
South American FOL (Manta, Ecuador)
The FOL at Manta extends our Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft coverage deep into the source zone. Detection and Monitoring aircraft can reach Peru, Colombia, and the drug producing areas of Bolivia, as well as major drug trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific from this FOL. USAF E-3 AWACS aircraft began operating from Manta in late 2001 and all construction was completed by the summer of 2002—thus expanding the FOL's capacity to handle four large and seven medium-sized aircraft.
Central American FOL (Comalapa, El Salvador)
In March 2000, the U.S. reached agreement with the Government of El Salvador to operate out of Comalapa International Airport. This FOL significantly extends the reach of Detection and Monitoring aircraft into the Eastern Pacific, through which over 50 percent of the drugs destined for the United States transits—much of which is comprised of multi-ton cocaine shipments. The U.S. Navy routinely flies P-3 MPA and E-2C AEW out of this airfield. The El Salvador FOL supports the operations of four P-3 MPA-sized aircraft, which focus primarily on monitoring eastern Pacific maritime drug smuggling corridors.
Related Resources:
A comprehensive overview of FOLs and their importance to counterdrug efforts can be found at http://www.ciponline.org/facts/fol.htm.
