Nicaragua Increases Gold Export of Dubious Origin
Nicaragua has become the largest exporter of gold in Central America, although its sales abroad do not match the amount extracted from its mines. The discrepancy suggests, according to some experts, that the Daniel Ortega-Rosario Murillo regime is triangulating the sale of the mineral from other countries. “There is a [ … ]
The Risks of China-Made High-Impact Infrastructure in Colombia PART II
Colombia, unlike other Latin American countries, was until recently almost immune to China’s penetration. However, this has changed significantly in recent years. According to data from the Bank of the Republic of Colombia, in 2022 direct investment from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) tripled in the Andean country. The [ … ]
UN Reports 3,960 Gang Deaths in Haiti in 2023
A November 26 United Nations (U.N.) report denounces that the violence that gangs unleashed in Haiti has left more than 3,000 people dead and thousands of others injured and victims of kidnapping. The report calls for speeding up the sending of a multinational force to the island. "The situation in [ … ]
Honduras Hosts Human Rights Conference
Military and law enforcement leaders from 10 countries came together for the Central American Human Rights Initiative Conference in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, November 29-30, to analyze human rights directives and policies applied in participating countries. The Conference was made possible thanks to the Honduran Ministry of Defense and U.S. Southern Command [ … ]
JIATF-South, ‘Gold Standard’ for Interagency Cooperation
Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South) is recognized as the “gold standard” for interagency cooperation and intelligence fusion among U.S. agencies. Located at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, JIATF-South is one of three U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) task forces in support of national and partner nations’ security. Its director, U.S. [ … ]
Colombia: Great Results in the Fight Against Narcotrafficking
The Colombian Military Forces are keeping up the fight against narcotrafficking carrying out operations within the frame of the Ayacucho Joint Strategic Campaign Plan, the military plan that supports the government’s “Total Peace” effort. These include the destruction of drug processing laboratories, cocaine seizures, and the capture of criminals, among [ … ]
China, the US, and Latin America: Pursuing Self-Interest Shouldn’t Imply Self-Destructive Choices
This article was originally published on Infobae on October 26, 2023. From October 22-25, 2023, I had the honor to be a speaker in an event on the relationships of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the U.S. with Latin America and the Caribbean. The event was hosted [ … ]
US Army, Guyana Defense Forces Strengthen Military Partnership
The leadership from U.S. Army 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) met November 27-28 as part of the United States and Guyana’s strong military-to-military partnership. The U.S. and Guyana defense forces discussed upcoming engagements to include strategic planning sessions and processes to enhance both [ … ]
US Naval Forces Southern Command Conducts Inaugural Maritime Planning Symposium
Twenty-five naval officers from eight partner nations recently completed the first-ever U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSO/4THFLT) Maritime Planning Symposium at the Peruvian Naval War College in Callao, Peru, in mid-November 2023. Supported by the College of Operational Warfare – International Maritime Staff Officer Course at the [ … ]
Soldiers Bridge the Communication Gap at Southern Vanguard 24
Clear and concise exchange of information has always been vital to any successful military operation. Staying connected in the field can sometimes be the difference between life and death. Military forces often use advanced and proprietary technologies to facilitate this communication. But ensuring compatibility between systems from different countries can [ … ]
The ‘Evil Russian Disinformation Machine’ in Latin America
Through the use of disinformation, economic coercion, and overt and covert political actions, Russia has weakened democratic institutions in Latin America. Such were the findings of a late October report of nongovernmental organization U.S. Institute of Peace. “This Russian machine is extremely pernicious and dangerous,” Jorge Serrano, a security expert [ … ]
The Illusion of China’s Investments
The seemingly large presence of Chinese companies in Central and South America is causing concern among social and political analysts, environmental news site Mongabay Latam reported. The reality may closer to an illusion, only useful to the Asian nation and its purposes. “The presence of Chinese companies in the region [ … ]