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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]

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, [ … ]

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, [ … ]

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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]