The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) worldview and quest for domestic and international hegemony threaten to reverse Latin American and Caribbean’s democratic and market-based economic principles that have facilitated regional stability for nearly 30 years. Beijing’s Latin America and Caribbean policy is based on China’s economic power, leading many observers to [ … ]
For Women of Jamaica Defence Force, Failure Is Not an Option
As the first and only female flag officer/general officer in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Commodore Antonette Wemyss-Gorman hopes to inspire women to follow in her footsteps. The child of a single mother, Cmdre. Wemyss-Gorman grew up with her grandparents in rural Jamaica, yet made the surprising choice of joining [ … ]
Lessons from Brazil’s Fight Against Corruption
“Corruption threatens the safety and the way of life of citizens all over the world,” said Brazilian Appellate Court Judge Reis Friede, director of the Federal Justice Cultural Center in Brazil. “Corruption costs lives, especially when someone dies because of lack of medication or care because a corrupt politician embezzled [ … ]
Maduro Steps Up His Repression of Democracy
The Nicolás Maduro regime and its allies continue to find new ways to repress democracy and brutalize the Venezuelan people. When Interim President Juan Guaidó returned from his diplomatic trip abroad on February 11, pro-Maduro bullies attacked him at the airport near Caracas. One tried to smash his car’s window [ … ]
Brazilian President Visits U.S. Southern Command
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) March 8 to meet with U.S. Navy Admiral Craig Faller, SOUTHCOM commander, as well as other command and Department of Defense leaders. Bolsonaro’s historic visit marks the first time a Brazilian president has visited SOUTHCOM. The leaders discussed the growing defense [ … ]
US Sanctions Russian Oil Company, Venezuelan State Airline
The U.S. announced sanctions targeting Russian oil company Rosneft’s trading unit, Rosneft Trading S.A., on February 18 and the Venezuelan state-run airline Conviasa on February 7. Both actions aim to stop the flow of money to the Nicolás Maduro regime and compel Maduro to allow free and fair elections. Rosneft [ … ]
In Meeting with Duque, Trump Calls ‘Spraying’ Necessary in the Fight Against Drugs
U.S. President Donald Trump defended aerial spraying of illicit crops in the fight against drugs, during his meeting with Colombian counterpart Iván Duque at the White House, March 2. The Duque government wants to resume the controversial aerial method. The Duque government hopes to resume aerial fumigation to counter narcotrafficking, [ … ]
First Colombian Female Soldier Takes Part in Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara
For the first time in the history of Colombia’s participation in peacekeeping missions, a female Army officer deployed to North Africa. Colombian Army First Lieutenant Zuly Vannesa Lugo Varón works as a military peace observer since February in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO, in [ … ]
Blue Amazon Management System to Help Patrol the Brazilian Coast
The oil spill that affected more than 1,243 miles of the Brazilian coast in August 2019 called for a more robust monitoring system of the area known as Blue Amazon. The Brazilian Navy (MB, in Portuguese) named the vast 1.3-million-square-mile maritime space after the rainforest to raise public awareness about [ … ]
Salvadoran Armed Force Makes Progress on Gender Equality
Twenty years ago, the Salvadoran Armed Force (FAES, in Spanish) opened its doors to female candidates at the Captain General Gerardo Barrios Military School. Since then, more than 1,500 women have joined the force. In early 2020, female participation within FAES includes 128 officers, three noncommissioned officers, and 480 troops. [ … ]
Analysis: Russia Continues to Invest in Venezuela in an Attempt to Control Latin America
In recent years, Russian oil company Rosneft increased its presence in Venezuela. What’s its purpose? Voice of America spoke with several analysts who said that the Russian state-owned company is not driven by gas or oil needs. Rather, its interest consists of “geopolitical reasons” aimed at eventually controlling the Latin [ … ]
USCAP Helps Rebuild a Safer Region
The United States-Colombia Action Plan is one of the farthest-reaching programs the United States promotes, with the support of Colombia. The United States-Colombia Action Plan (USCAP) for Regional Security is a cooperation agreement Colombia and the United States signed during former U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to the April 2012 [ … ]