Sanctions, Seizures, Surveillance Combat Synthetic Drug Trade in Indo-Pacific
This article was originally published on FORUM, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command magazine, on March 12, 2026. The synthetic drug trade, spearheaded by fentanyl and methamphetamine, has metastasized from a criminal enterprise into a complex geopolitical phenomenon, demanding an expansive, multidimensional international response. This global crisis hinges on the ready supply [ … ]
Chilean Forces Showcase Skill and Partnership at Texas Best Warrior Competition
Chile’s strong showing at the 2026 Texas Best Warrior Competition offered more than a demonstration of tactical skill — it highlighted the spirit of partnership, professionalism, and camaraderie that defines military cooperation under the State Partnership Program (SPP). Held at Camp Swift, March 23-27, the annual event hosted by the [ … ]
Colombian and US Navies Reinforce Partnership During Maritime Staff Talks
Colombian and U.S. senior naval leaders convened in Cartagena, March 24-27, 2026, for the annual Maritime Staff Talks (MST), reaffirming the enduring partnership between both nations and outlining a path for future maritime collaboration. [caption id="attachment_104136" align="alignleft" width="300"] Rear Admiral Carlos Sardiello (L), commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. [ … ]
China’s Growing Intelligence Footprint in Latin America
The expansion of China’s economic and political presence in Latin America has in recent years been accompanied by growing concerns about surveillance and intelligence activity, particularly in cyberspace. According to CrowdStricke’s 2025 Threat Landscape Report for Latin America, China-linked cyber actors were among the most active nation-state groups targeting the [ … ]
Criminal Trails: How Illegal Road Networks Fuel Crime and Deforestation in the Colombian Amazon
The Colombian Amazon faces a paradox: While farmers lack road infrastructure to transport legal products, a growing network of informal trails — precarious, unpaved rural roads — has proliferated across the region. Authorities warn that many of these routes have become logistical corridors for transnational criminal economies, used to transport [ … ]
Iran’s HispanTV Intensifies Anti-Semitism and Disinformation in Latin America
HispanTV, the Iranian regime’s Spanish-language news channel, has intensified efforts to spread anti-Jewish hatred and disinformation about the Middle East conflict and global affairs, according to international analysts. A February 2026 report by New York-based nongovernmental organization Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that HispanTV has significantly escalated its dissemination of antisemitic [ … ]
China’s Pressure Playbook: Panama and a Pattern of Economic Coercion
China has intensified economic, diplomatic, and trade pressure on Panama following the annulment of a key port contract, in a case that reflects a recurring approach Beijing has used to respond when governments take decisions that run counter to its interests. The dispute over port operations on the Panama Canal [ … ]
El Salvador-US: A Model for Regional Security Cooperation
In the past few years, cooperation between El Salvador and the United has evolved into a sophisticated, high-tech alliance that has become a fundamental pillar for strengthening security in the region. Through technical exchanges, joint programs, and the integration of state-of-the-art technology, both nations have coordinated efforts to combat transnational [ … ]
Continental Shield: Multilateral Cooperation and Strategic Synergy in the Chile Fires
As Chile transitions into the autumn months, the nation continues to reflect on an early year defined by one of the most severe forest fires in recent history. The fires, which devastated areas of the Biobío, Ñuble, and La Araucanía regions, prompted a massive and coordinated response that saw the [ … ]
A Weakened Hezbollah Remains a Threat in Latin America
This article was originally published by U.S. Northern Command’s magazine The Watch, on March 20, 2026. Hezbollah, a United States-designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), has a long history of operating in Latin America dating back to the 1980s, shortly after its formation in Lebanon. Active in 12 Latin American nations, [ … ]
China in Latin America: Strategic Engagement, Leverage, and Democratic Risk – PART II
The Iranian Revolution and the Expansion of Terrorism in Latin America
This article was originally published in mid-2024 and has been updated for republication. In a 2024 report, Hezbollah Terror Plot in Brazil, Emanuele Ottolenghi, an expert on Iran and Hezbollah, highlights how Tehran uses the idea of the Iranian Revolution in Latin America to spread terrorism through its proxy, Hezbollah. [ … ]
