Efforts Grow to Counter China’s Expanding Distant-Water Fishing Fleet
A growing international coalition of governments, civil society organizations, and fishing-sector stakeholders is calling for stronger controls on China’s distant-water fishing fleet operating in the South Pacific. Their concerns go beyond sustainability. The expansion of China’s fleet has increasingly raised questions about maritime security, high seas governance, and the ability [ … ]
From Isolation to Integration: Venezuela’s Emerging Role in Regional Counter-TCO Efforts
Venezuela’s role in regional efforts to counter transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) may be entering a new phase. Following the January 2026 arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the country has entered a fluid political transition under interim leadership. At the same time, diplomatic engagement with the United States and neighboring countries has [ … ]
Gold from the Amazon: How Illegal Mining Fuels and Expands Organized Crime in the Guiana Shield
In the Amazonian expanse of the Guiana Shield — a region that includes Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and adjacent parts of Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia — illegal gold mining has moved beyond a supporting illicit activity to become a parallel and increasingly resilient source of financing and territorial control for [ … ]
Readiness Through Partnership: LAMAT 2026 Delivers Care in Saint Lucia
U.S. Air Force medical and support personnel returned to Saint Lucia to conduct the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 mission in partnership with the Saint Lucia Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, continuing a long-standing collaboration focused on patient care and clinical knowledge exchange across the island. [ … ]
Guatemala Strengthens Border Security Through Expanded Operational Capabilities
Guatemala is strengthening its operational capabilities against transnational criminal networks through a series of initiatives that include specialized training, joint exercises, technical assistance, and logistical support carried out in close cooperation with the United States. This effort takes place within a regional environment where increasingly sophisticated transnational criminal organizations demand [ … ]
US, French, and Dutch Forces Sign Charter to Dismantle Cartel Operations Across the Caribbean and Atlantic
Senior military leaders from the French Republic, Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United States convened in Key West, Florida, April 28-29, 2026, to strengthen coordination against transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) operating across the Western Hemisphere. The allied forces reaffirmed their commitment to expanding partnerships, improving information sharing, and enhancing [ … ]
Iván Duque: Security in the Americas Requires Intelligence, Cooperation, and Shared Responsibility
A New Phase in Central America’s Fight Against Sophisticated Criminal Networks
The fight against criminal structures in Central America has entered a new phase: dismantling their growing operational sophistication. In both Honduras and Guatemala, security forces are not only confronting criminal networks but are identifying and dismantling their advanced physical and technological infrastructure, reflecting a broader regional effort to counter transnational [ … ]
Iván Duque: Security in the Americas Requires Intelligence, Cooperation, and Shared Responsibility
A key figure in the hemispheric debate on security, governance, and international cooperation, former Colombian president Iván Duque Márquez (2018–2022) has established himself as one of the most influential voices in the region in addressing the challenges of organized crime and transnational threats. During his administration, he promoted initiatives to [ … ]
There is Nowhere to Hide: Joint Operation Tridente Chokes Off Narcoterrorism in the Eastern Pacific
In a relentless demonstration of multinational capability, the United States and Colombia executed Operation Tridente (Trident) in April, targeting key maritime smuggling routes in the Eastern Pacific and reinforcing a clear message: Narcoterrorist networks can no longer rely on maritime borders to escape justice. Coordinated by U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) [ … ]
How Organized Crime Is Reinventing Money Laundering in Latin America
Approximately $400 billion is laundered each year in Latin America through activities such as corruption, tax evasion, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and the use of shell companies. Although efforts to combat money laundering has improved over the years, progress remains uneven across the region. Countries collectively still rank below the [ … ]
Coordinated Operations and Regional Cooperation Drive Mexico’s Security Gains
The Mexican government has intensified efforts against transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) operating across the hemisphere. These actions include drug seizures along maritime routes, arrests of members of these groups, and expanded coordination with international partners. “This shift reflects an adjustment in security strategy observed since late 2025, focused on dismantling [ … ]
