New Strategic Approach to Ecuador’s Defense
Ecuadorian Defense Minister Major General (ret.) Luis Lara Jaramillo knows his country’s Armed Forces firsthand. During his 38-year military career he led several special operations groups and served as infantry commander and as defense attaché to the Ecuadorian Embassy in Chile, among other roles, until he reached the highest military [ … ]
Minuteman III ICBM Test Launch Showcases Readiness of US Nuclear Deterrent
The U.S. Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Vandenberg Space Force Base (SFB), California, during an operational test September 7, 2022. The ICBM was equipped with three test re-entry vehicles, which traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. This [ … ]
El Salvador Combats Narcotrafficking in the Pacific Deep-Sea
The Trident Naval Task Force (FTNT) of the Salvadoran Naval Force (FNES) ventures far off El Salvador’s Pacific coast to interdict transnational criminal groups that attempt to move cocaine from South America to the United States, oftentimes relying on the support and intelligence of partner nations. “At the moment we [ … ]
Russia’s Wiper Attacks Cause Massive Cyber Damage
Russia is keeping up its attempts to turn cyberspace into a battlefield by attacking its adversaries with a type of malware known as wiper, which destroys the hard drive of infected computers, erasing all data and programs, and causing enormous damage to companies and organizations, Spanish cybersecurity firm S21sec says [ … ]
Russia to Install Satellite Navigation System in Venezuela
Russia announced its plans to install a GLONASS satellite navigation ground station in Venezuela. The GLONASS system is similar to the GPS of the United States and the Galileo system of Europe. According to the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the deployment of the station is part of the agreement between [ … ]
Brazil Hosts the 63rd Edition of Exercise UNITAS
Brazil hosted the 63rd edition of exercise UNITAS, gathering 20 countries, September 8-22. The U.S. Southern Command-sponsored naval exercise carried out annually in different countries of the Americas, in a rotational system, is considered the oldest in continuity worldwide, since 1959. The exercise aims to strengthen the mutual bonds of [ … ]
A conversation with Peruvian Army Colonel Gerber Rubio Álvarez
SOUTHCOM Commander Meets with President, Defense Leaders During Visit to Ecuador
U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, met with Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso and senior Ecuadorian defense leaders to discuss continued bilateral cooperation during a visit to Ecuador this week. Gen. Richardson visited Ecuador September 12-16 to join defense leaders from 10 nations for the [ … ]
Bricomiles Raise Suspicions in Venezuelan Society
The Community-Military Brigades (Bricomiles) created by the Nicolás Maduro regime in late June to repair and refurbish the country’s public schools and health centers are raising suspicions that soldiers with the brigades may get involved in educational matters. Members of the Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB), the ruling United Socialist Party [ … ]
Suriname, Strengthening Border Protection from Illegal Activities
Opening lines of communication with neighboring countries to successfully fight against narcotrafficking and other crimes has been one of the focus of Colonel Werner Guiseppe Kioe A Sen, commander of the Suriname Armed Forces (SAF). Col. Kioe A Sen is set on keeping criminal international organizations away from Suriname. Col. [ … ]
The Evolution of PRC Engagement in Mexico
This article was first published on Global Americans on August 24, 2022 Overview Mexico, despite its integration with the economy of the United States, as well as its historic distrust for and structural competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is pursuing policies that are expanding options for that [ … ]
B-1Bs Conduct CONUS to CONUS Bomber Task Force Mission in Support of SOUTHCOM
B-1B Lancers departed Dyess Air Force Base, Georgia, September 7, 2022 in support of a bomber task force (BTF) mission to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR). During this mission, B-1 aircrews integrated with partner nations in SOUTHCOM AOR, air refueled with the support of MacDill Air [ … ]
