Salvadoran Civil War: U.S. Influence (1981-1989) on changes in the Armed Forces of El Salvador (FAES)
Abstract
The United States influenced the development of the Salvadoran Civil War (1981-1992) during the Cold War and within the framework of Low-Intensity Conflict Doctrine. Their involvement pursued the modernization, education, and equipment of the Fuerza Armada de El Salvador (FAES) to fight the insurgent movements in the region, particularly the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional. This study proposes that the changes in the FAES during Reagan’s administration (1981-1989) were critical to the development and outcome of the civil war due to its influence on the FAES’ operational readiness, education in counterinsurgent warfare and the creation of special units. We conclude that the US military cooperation increased the FAES’s firepower and logistic capacity to fight across the country, preventing the insurgency from reaching its objectives.Downloads
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