China and Russia Overshadow Resource-Rich Bolivia
Increased lithium extraction in Bolivia is capturing international attention, as the government seeks to attract foreign investment to build processing plants. Yet experts point to the lack of transparency in the agreements with Chinese and Russian companies and their real impact on the country, an April 3 report by environmental [ … ]
Australian Study Says China Uses Global Apps, Games for Propaganda
An Australian study claims that China’s monitoring of global internet users’ online habits — a practice that has made TikTok controversial in the United States — extends far beyond the popular social media app to numerous other platforms and even online games. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a research organization [ … ]
Colombia, US Deal Blows to Narcotrafficking in the Caribbean
The first quarter of 2024 saw two major blows against narcotrafficking in the Colombian Caribbean: the largest cocaine seizure of the year, and the largest marijuana seizure in the last 10 years. Both results were achieved through coordinated and combined operations between the Colombian Military Forces and U.S. Southern Command’s [ … ]
Argentina Gains Supersonic Power
The Argentine Air Force (FAA) gained supersonic fighter capability with the acquisition of 24 F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Royal Danish Air Force, following an agreement the Defense ministries of both countries signed on April 16 in Copenhagen. “It was a logical and necessary step,” Juan Belikow, a defense specialist [ … ]
Fear Grows over Iranian and Hezbollah Threat in Latin America
The threat from Iran continues to grow in Latin America. In recent weeks, as Argentina’s security forces stepped up vigilance due to an anti-terrorism alert, experts warned of the growing influence of the Iranian regime and its proxy, terrorist group Hezbollah, in the Triple Frontier, along the junction of Argentina, [ … ]
Venezuela, an International Problem
In little more than a decade, the regime of Nicolás Maduro has led Venezuela to the brink of collapse. The crisis in the South American country not only affects its own people, but also undermines regional and international stability, Spanish think tank Elcano Royal Institute says in an April 5 [ … ]
Panama, US Hard at Work Against Organized Crime
The U.S. government has allocated more than $12 million in the last two years in support of security assistance for Panama, through the U.S. Embassy’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. “The U.S. government support boosts the capabilities of our public [ … ]
Illicit Coca Crops Play Pivotal Role in Forest Degradation in Latin America, UN Warns
Illicit coca cultivation expanded in the Amazon basin and the Andean region the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) indicated in its Annual Report 2023 released this March. This expansion, the report indicates, significantly impacts local ecosystems and biodiversity, leading to substantial deforestation, soil degradation, and loss of flora [ … ]
China Seeks to Boost Footprint in Latin America, Sales of Defective Military Equipment
China’s attempt to build influence in Latin America includes efforts to forge stronger military ties such as through the sale of military equipment, particularly to countries more economically, politically, and ideologically committed to Beijing, regional defense experts say. For instance, sometime in the first trimester of 2024, according to Argentine [ … ]
Brazil and China: Asymmetric and Troubling Relationship – PART I
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in early 2023 was greeted by the country’s top leader with friendly words. “You are our old friend and a good friend. It was with your attention and support that China-Brazil relations achieved a great [ … ]
Tradewinds 24: Unity and Skills Shine at WPS Challenge
Seeking to test their athleticism and mental agility, teams from eight countries met on the sandy shores of Paragon Army Base, Barbados, for the highly anticipated Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Team Building Challenge, within international exercise Tradewinds 24, May 11. Two-person teams from the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, [ … ]
Brazil, Colombia Step Up Fight Against Transnational Crime in the Amazon
The Brazilian and Colombian armed forces have jointly stepped up the fight against transnational crime in the Amazon. In late April, military authorities from both countries signed an agreement to close in on criminal organizations in the region. “In Brasilia, we signed the Cooperation Plan between the Colombian Military Forces [ … ]