Guatemala Hosts Central American Security Conference, Focuses on Cyber Security
For this year’s Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC), defense and public-security leaders from the United States and Central America discussed the central theme to the conference, which was using innovations to protect borders in all domains. Guatemala City was the location this year as the Minister of Defense Brigadier General [ … ]
SOUTHCOM Commander Meets with Guatemalan Leaders, Central American Security Chiefs in Guatemala
U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Guatemala April 15-18, meeting with President Bernardo Arévalo and senior defense leaders, as well as taking part in the Central American Security Conference 2024 (CENTSEC). The trip to Guatemala was Gen. Richardson’s first official visit to the [ … ]
Ecuador Fights Back Against Organized Crime
The government of Ecuador is intensifying its fight against the financial structures of organized crime through a specialized financial crime investigation unit, Argentine news site Infobae reported. This unit will pursue those involved in tax and customs fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. “This initiative makes it possible to target [ … ]
Brazil and Paraguay Join Forces Against Organized Crime
The armed forces of Brazil and Paraguay, with the support of police and judicial agents, joined forces in their fight against organized crime, seizing more than 6 tons of marijuana, confiscating weapons, and destroying 33 narco camps in February, authorities from both countries said in statements. These results were achieved [ … ]
The Russian Cyberthreat
Countries worldwide have denounced Russia’s increase in cyberattacks, calling its actions “intolerable,” and the cause of tensions and mistrust, Spanish newspaper La Razón reported. These actions affect individuals, as well as governmental and private companies alike and electoral processes in several nations. “Russia and China are recognized as advanced cyberthreats [ … ]
Experts Warn about Risks from China’s 5G Technology in Colombia
As Colombia deploys its 5G network, experts warn about the potential cybersecurity challenges due to lack of adequate infrastructure and legislation. Experts say that the country needs to build capabilities to adequately adapt to the complexities inherent to these networks, especially to protect itself from the risks associated with the [ … ]
Panama, Colombia, US, Allies Against Transnational Crime
Colombia and Panama, with the support of the United States, increased their efforts to secure their common border through international cooperation. The Darién region, historically plagued by illicit activities, represents major challenges for the authorities of these countries. Transnational criminal groups commit crimes that include drug, arms, and human trafficking, [ … ]
Brazil’s participation in international cooperation in Mine Action
April 4 marked the International Day for Mine Action Awareness and Assistance, established in 2005 by the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly. The Brazilian Army is a benchmark in demining and deactivating explosive devices. In this article, Captain Davyson Anderson Cavalcanti Sobral, of the Brazilian Army’s Engineering Wing, discusses Brazil's [ … ]
Perry Center Honors University of Guyana with Excellence in Security and Defense Education Award
The 2023 William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education was awarded to the University of Guyana’s (UG) Institute for Human Resilience, Strategic Security, and the Future (IHRSSF). The award, bestowed each year upon individuals or institutions in recognition of their significant contributions in the fields of [ … ]
Venezuela Consolidates Its Position as Iran’s Gateway to Latin America
The recent visit of an Iranian delegation to Venezuela marks a new chapter in the already robust strategic alliance between both countries, raising questions about the implications for regional and global stability. According to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, the March 11 meeting aimed at reviewing bilateral cooperation. Both countries, under [ … ]
Hundreds of Chinese Websites Pose as Local News to Disseminate Disinformation
More than a hundred websites operated from within the People’s Republic of China have been posing as local news outlets in 30 countries across Latin America, Europe, and Asia, to disseminate pro-Beijing disinformation, The Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity laboratory based at the University of Toronto, Canada, revealed in a February [ … ]
‘Challenges Are Bridges of Opportunity’
“Challenges are bridges of opportunity” was one of the exciting phrases that guest speaker U.S. Army Colonel Josielyn Carrasquillo, commander of Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) las Americas Region, used during her presentation. Col. Carrasquillo, who is responsible for operations from Alaska to Argentina, was invited as a guest speaker in [ … ]