The Alcântara Base’s proximity to the equator promotes fuel savings, one of the main advantages for airspace companies. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro conducted his first official visit to the United States, following an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump, March 17-19, 2019. In one of the highlights of the meeting, [ … ]
Brazil and 17 Partner Nations Take Part in Conference of American Armies
Service members representing 18 countries of the Americas exchanged ideas and suggestions to combat transregional and transnational threat networks. The Conference of American Armies (CAA) is a military organization created in 1960, connecting 26 countries from North to South America. Military leaders from 18 CAA member countries gathered in San [ … ]
Leveraging Financial Intelligence to Counter Transnational Threat Networks in the Americas
Since the 9/11 attacks, the United States and partner nations increasingly use financial intelligence to combat terrorism, crime, and corruption around the world. Financing is the critical enabler for any organization, even for the Mexican cartels, Central American gangs, and international terrorist groups. Following the money trail helped governments better [ … ]
Argentina Creates Support Unit for Venezuela’s Reconstruction
The unit coordinates help and donations for the Caribbean nation. In light of the serious crisis in Venezuela, the Argentine government announced the creation of the Management Unit to Support Venezuela’s Reconstruction, February 14. The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship said in a press release that the unit’s [ … ]
Brazilian Navy Counts Largest Fleet of Amphibious Vehicles in the Southern Hemisphere
The Brazilian Navy acquired amphibious vehicles AAV7A1 under the framework of the 1986 agreement with the U.S. Navy. Twenty-three7A1 Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAV), of the Brazilian Marine Corps (CFN, in Portuguese), will be updated with new communications systems by May 2019. The U.S. vehicles arrived in Brazil in late 2018, [ … ]
SOCSOUTH’s Unique Capabilities Assist SOUTHCOM’s Strategy
U.S. Special Operations Command South, a SOUTHCOM component, works to find and counter threats to the Western Hemisphere. Diálogo spoke with U.S. Army Brigadier General Antonio Fletcher, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), which leads all special operations forces in Latin America and the Caribbean. Diálogo: What is [ … ]
Nicaragua, Bolivia: Strategic Partners for Russia
Moscow vies to become a central player in Latin America to strengthen its influence. Amid its obsession with reconfiguring world order, Russia seeks to increase its bonds with other Asian and Latin American countries through weapons, economic, and political connections. In addition to Venezuela—Russia’s main partner—Nicaragua and Bolivia help the [ … ]
Peruvian Army Appoints First Female Colonels
The Peruvian Army promoted two female officers to the rank of colonel for the first time. Peruvian Army officers Lourdes Aurelia Barriga Abarca and María Magdalena Dibós Mori were promoted to the rank of colonel in October 2018, becoming the first women to hold that position. The officers belong to [ … ]
US Donation Strengthens Fight against Drugs in Panama
U.S. contributions reinforce operations of Panama’s security forces on the Colombian border. In early February, the U.S. government delivered a donation to Panama to strengthen its Public Force’s security operations. The donation, a hangar, equipment, and vehicles, will support units assigned to the Darién region, on the Colombian border. On [ … ]
Brazilian Armed Forces Respond to Mining Disaster
Service members, firefighters, civil defense teams, police officers, doctors, and volunteers worked on the greatest rescue operation in Brazil’s history, with more than 300 people missing or dead. The Brazilian Armed Forces deployed about 190 service members to search-and-rescue missions for one of the greatest disasters in the country. A [ … ]
Chilean, US Special Forces Strengthen Interoperability
Hundreds of service members took part in combined special operations to consolidate their response to regional threats. The United States and Chile formed a multinational force to combat a terrorist group whose actions destabilized peace and created insecurity in Latin America. Their units deployed air and land assets to swiftly [ … ]
Brazilian Navy Conducts Operation Aspirantex 2019
About 2,000 service members took part in a naval exercise at sea. Between January 11-31, 2019, the Brazilian Navy (MB, in Portuguese), conducted Operation Aspirantex 2019, in the maritime area between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Montevideo, Uruguay. One objective of the exercise was to train Naval Academy cadets for [ … ]