“The Cold War is over but Cold War thinking survives” In 1955 amidst the Cold War, the U.S. Air Force conceived a nuclear weapon project concept that involved a low-flying, nuclear-powered supersonic missile that carried a thermonuclear warhead. The Supersonic Low Altitude Missile, abbreviated as SLAM, was decades ahead of [ … ]
Navies of the Region Conduct Naval Exercise Transamerica XI
In mid-August, the navies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay — and Colombia as an observer country — took part in the Transamerica XI Maritime Traffic Naval Control Exercise. Ecuador organized and hosted the exercise. For two weeks, participating countries simulated tension, crisis, [ … ]
China Expands Pollution Footprint
Instead of honoring the “green promise” it made at the United Nations on September 22, 2020, to become a zero-emission economy, China has been increasing its pollution levels. The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is preparing to restart operations in Venezuela as soon as the Nicolás Maduro regime approves energy [ … ]
Suriname Army Commander Addresses Regional Challenges at Defense Conference
Diálogo met with Colonel Henri van Axeldongen, commander of the Suriname National Army at the South American Defense Conference held in Miami, Florida on August 17-18, where he spoke about regional challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects of the space domain on national security. Diálogo: What are the greatest [ … ]
Paraguayan Authorities Conduct Record Cocaine Seizure
In late July, the Paraguayan National Police made the largest cocaine seizure in the South American country with the discovery of more than 3 tons of the drug in the Asunción Metropolitan Area, the state-run news outlet Agencia de Información Paraguaya said in a statement. Authorities seized a total of [ … ]
Colombia-Venezuela Border has the Largest Concentration of Coca Crops
Colombia has the largest area of coca crops in the world, with 143,000 hectares cultivated forthe main raw material for cocaine production. Of the 20 Colombian states where illicit crops have been identified, Norte de Santander, bordering Venezuela, has the largest cultivated area, about 40,000 hectares. These figures appear in [ … ]
Colombian Navy Seizes 4.3 Tons of Drugs
In early August, the Colombian Navy dealt another harsh blow to narcotrafficking in the Pacific coast of Colombia with the seizure of more than 4.3 tons of drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, as well as a Self Propelled Semi Submersible (SPSS) and four speedboats. Units of the Pacific Naval Force [ … ]
Iran Increases Presence in Latin America in Alliance with Organized Crime
Iran has expanded its influence in Latin America with a double threat: extremist ideology and alliance with criminal groups. According to analysts, Tehran conducts illicit business with Venezuela, supports the expansion of the terrorist group Hezbollah into the region, and benefits from illegal mining. “Organized crime is a fundamental piece [ … ]
CONAT, Elite Command in the Fight Against Narcotrafficking
The Command Against Drug Trafficking and Transnational Threats (CONAT, in Spanish) began operations in Colombia on February 26, 2021, as an elite force consisting of 7,000 men and women of the Colombian Army to lead the fight against armed groups, carry out interdiction operations against narcotrafficking organizations, conduct strategic eradication [ … ]
FNAMP Combats Cybercrime Increase in Honduras
The pandemic triggered a massive shift toward digital transactions around the world, presenting opportunities and challenges for users and companies of all sizes. In Honduras, for example, digital banking has opened the door to a new payment and consumption style. Experts estimate that seven out of 10 banking services are [ … ]
Suriname’s Defense Force Strengthens the Role of Women
“It’s very important to share your story and encourage all other women and men in the world to think about the role you’re playing in your organization, family, and community.” These were the opening remarks of Surinamese Minister of Defense Krishna Mathoera, speaking at the first forum of senior leaders [ … ]
Whose Rights Are They, Anyway?
Modern international law came into existence at the end of the Thirty Years’ War in Europe.1 Horrified by the unprecedented destruction of a series of wars over religion, European negotiators at Westphalia coined the phrase “cuius regio, eius religio.”2 Literally translated, it means “whose realm, his religion.” It could be loosely translated [ … ]