President Nayib Bukele recently defended the strategic confidentiality that guided the implementation of El Salvador’s Territorial Security Plan, a multi-phase program launched in June 2019 to combat gang violence from groups such as MS‑13 and Barrio 18, emphasizing that this secrecy was crucial to its success.
In a post on X and during an address to the nation, Bukele recalled that when the plan was announced, the government stated that its phases would be revealed gradually as they were implemented. However, journalists and critics demanded that all phases be disclosed immediately. The president stressed that complying with these demands would have jeopardized the plan’s effectiveness and the lives of thousands of Salvadorans, stating directly: “How many thousands of lives would have been lost if we had listened to them? It’s easier said than done.”
During his speech, Bukele provided examples of tactical execution: coordinated deployments of police and military in communities with high gang presence, house-to-house search operations, and preventive measures to prevent criminals from escaping through ravines or forested areas. He emphasized that the strategy balanced the need to inform the public with the protection of operational effectiveness, demonstrating that total transparency does not always guarantee safety or effective results in high-risk contexts.
From a political perspective, the president highlighted that resisting opposition pressures and their demands for full disclosure was a key factor in the institutional effectiveness of the plan, ensuring significant progress in reducing homicides, extortion, and other crimes. According to Bukele, this approach allowed the Territorial Security Plan to achieve its objectives without compromising lives or operations.
The address reinforces the official narrative that prudence and strategic confidentiality are essential components in the design and execution of security policies, particularly when dealing with organized and complex criminal structures.