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. [ … ]
Ecuador, US Joint Operation Disrupts Narcoterrorism in the Eastern Pacific
In a powerful demonstration of international cooperation, Ecuador and the United States concluded Operation Pulpo (Octopus) in late March, a highly successful joint counternarcotics mission in the Eastern Pacific. The operation disrupted key maritime smuggling routes used by narcoterrorist networks, resulting in significant drug seizures and highlighting the evolving nature [ … ]
US Service Members Deliver Critical Medical Care to Bocas del Toro Communities
A team of U.S. service members conducted a five-day humanitarian mission to Bocas del Toro, March 22–25, delivering essential medical services to residents in remote and underserved communities across the Panamanian island province. “Bocas del Toro was selected at the request of the Ministry of Health, which identified a gap [ … ]
CENTAM Guardian 2026: Building Interoperability Against Shared Security Threats
Multinational exercise CENTAM Guardian 2026, co-sponsored by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and El Salvador’s Ministry of Defense, will convene Central American armed forces in mid-April. The exercise underscores that interoperability is not merely a military concept, but a strategic imperative linking national security, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response into a [ … ]
LAMAT 2026 Advances Regional Security, Health Care Capacity in Guyana
U.S. Air Force and Guyanese medical personnel completed a two-week Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission March 27, 2026, marked by a closing ceremony at the State House in Georgetown. Conducted in coordination with the government of Guyana, the mission brought together U.S. and Guyanese providers to deliver patient [ … ]
Chinese Mafia in Chile: Dismantling a $200 Million Transnational Fraud Network
A Chinese transnational criminal organization (TCO), consisting of Chinese and Chilean citizens was dismantled in Iquique, following a joint investigation by the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, with support from the FBI. While the network used dozens of subordinates for local logistics, the enterprise was identified [ … ]
Technological Cooperation Between Colombia and China Expands, Raising Security Concerns
Colombia is deepening technological cooperation with China, particularly in telecommunications and digital infrastructure, which security analysts warn could have significant long-term implications for the country’s national security and digital sovereignty. Globally, governments have raised concerns about the role of Chinese companies in critical infrastructure. Telecommunications networks, cloud platforms, and data [ … ]
US 4th Fleet Deploys for Southern Seas 2026
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) has deployed to the region as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s (USNAVSO/4THFLT) Southern Seas 2026. Nimitz and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) are scheduled to conduct passing exercises and operations at sea with partner nation [ … ]
‘A Simple Approach’: Analysts Say Regional Cooperation Is Crucial in Illegal Fishing Battle
This article was originally published on the U.S. Africa Command’s Magazine ADF, on November 6, 2025. Africa loses an estimated $11.2 billion in annual revenue to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The challenge is particularly acute in West Africa, which loses up to $9.4 billion to the scourge. Illegal [ … ]
Brazil Tracks Evolving Routes for Illegal Amazon Gold
Brazilian authorities say criminal networks involved in illegal mining are adapting their logistics to move gold extracted in the Amazon across international borders, increasingly using the northern state of Roraima as a transit corridor to neighbor countries. For years, one of the most visible fronts of illegal mining in Brazil [ … ]
