Investing in Citizen Security: Common Solutions for Common Problems
In a context where organized crime affects numerous communities across Latin America, citizen security has become one of the population’s primary concerns. For Cristian Zamora, mayor of Cuenca, Ecuador, and president of the Latin American Federation of Cities, Municipalities, and Associations of Local Governments (FLACMA), strengthening citizen participation and community [ … ]
How Regional ISR Integration Strengthens Countercrime Operations in Central America
Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, strengthened through regional cooperation and support from strategic partners, are increasingly shaping how Central American countries detect, track, and respond to transnational criminal activity. Across the region, the integration of advanced monitoring technologies, information-sharing systems, and multinational coordination is improving authorities’ ability to monitor [ … ]
The Reconfiguration of Organized Crime Under Security Pressure in Latin America
In recent years, organized crime in Latin America has undergone significant transformations driven in part by sustained pressure from security forces. Criminal organizations across the region have adapted by fragmenting their structures, incorporating advanced technologies, diversifying illicit operations, and strengthening transnational connections. These evolving dynamics are reshaping the regional security [ … ]
Ecuador and Kentucky National Guard Mark 30 Years of Partnership During Exercise EL GATO
Ecuadorian Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel trained alongside members of the Kentucky Army National Guard during Exercise EL GATO in Salinas, Ecuador, May 10–19, marking the 30th anniversary of the partnership between Ecuador and Kentucky under the State Partnership Program (SPP). The exercise brought together military police and security [ … ]
Chinese Projects’ Rapid Pace Raises Oversight and Security Concerns in Latin America
The accelerated implementation of China-linked infrastructure projects across Latin America is increasingly challenging institutional oversight mechanisms during execution. This model, which prioritizes rapid delivery, often compresses evaluation and monitoring processes, affecting transparency and long-term sustainability. In countries facing institutional and oversight challenges, analysts warn that accelerated implementation can reduce opportunities [ … ]
US Service Members Provide Care to Azuero Panama in Collaboration with Juntos por la Salud
A team of U.S. service members conducted a three-day humanitarian mission to Azuero, May 19-21, providing medical care to local communities across the Panamanian province. The mission aimed to improve access to health care for remote communities while giving U.S. personnel valuable experience operating in isolated environments. “The Panamanian government [ … ]
Persistent Vigilance: Maritime Enforcement Adapts to Evolving Threats at Sea
Maritime security forces across the Western Hemisphere are operating in an increasingly complex environment where illicit actors continuously adapt their methods to evade detection at sea. From narcotrafficking operations using decentralized logistics to deceptive maritime practices associated with sanctions-evasion vessels, authorities across the region are confronting maritime threats that are [ … ]
Chinese EVs in Brazil: Connectivity, Data, and Strategic Risks
The expansion of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) in Brazil continues to accelerate, fueling growing concerns related to cybersecurity and the possible dual-use — civilian and strategic — nature of the technologies integrated into these vehicles. Unlike traditional automobiles, modern EVs increasingly function as mobile digital platforms capable of collecting, processing, [ … ]
Mexican Cartels’ Regional Networks Challenge Security Across Latin America
The expansion of Mexican cartels across Latin America is no longer defined solely by the movement of drugs. Increasingly, organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) are embedding themselves into regional criminal ecosystems through alliances, logistics networks, corruption, and control of strategic infrastructure, creating security [ … ]
Radiological Security and Organized Crime: A New Challenge for the Hemisphere
As Latin America expands the use of radiological materials in hospitals, research centers, agriculture, and energy infrastructure, radiological security is becoming an increasingly important component of the hemisphere’s security architecture. In an exclusive interview with Diálogo, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warns that the [ … ]
Haiti Enhances Operational Response with Gang Suppression Force
The deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) marks a shift in how security operations are conducted in Haiti, introducing a more robust, coordinated approach to confronting heavily armed gangs that control large areas of the country. Backed by international partners, the force is designed to operate with greater scale, [ … ]
