A Conversation With

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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]

With more than 30 years of service in the Peruvian Air Force, Major General Mariano Nieves Rodríguez Llerena now leads the country’s efforts in two of the most strategic and emerging domains of modern defense: space and cyberspace. Commander of the Peruvian Air Force Space and Cyberspace Command and a [ … ]

Argentina is undertaking one of its most significant defense transformations in decades, reshaping a doctrine historically centered on conventional conflicts to address transnational threats, critical infrastructure protection, cyber defense, and maritime surveillance. In this exclusive interview with Diálogo, Argentine Defense Minister Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti outlines how the country [ … ]

Guatemala is positioning itself as a strategic player in regional defense, taking a more assertive role in confronting the expansion of transnational organized crime and the growing threats facing hemispheric security. This was the assessment shared by Minister of National Defense Major General Henry David Sáenz, in an exclusive interview [ … ]

A key figure in the hemispheric debate on security, governance, and international cooperation, former Colombian president Iván Duque Márquez (2018–2022) has established himself as one of the most influential voices in the region in addressing the challenges of organized crime and transnational threats. During his administration, he promoted initiatives to [ … ]

Under the leadership of Minister of Public Security Frank Ábrego, Panama has strengthened its role as a key partner in regional security. The country has intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, curb irregular migration through the Darién region, and safeguard strategic infrastructure such as the Panama Canal. These efforts have [ … ]

Army Colonel Lorenzo Agustín Cabrera Burgos is a senior officer in the Paraguayan Armed Forces with extensive experience in international operations, military education, and multinational cooperation. A graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, he has developed a career marked by operational leadership and institutional strengthening, [ … ]

Ecuador’s Minister of Defense Gian Carlo Loffredo Rendón has been at the forefront of the country’s efforts to combat organized crime and narco-terrorism during one of the most challenging security periods in its recent history. Since taking office in November 2023, Minister Loffredo has focused on strengthening the capabilities of [ … ]

Originally conducted in mid-2025, the following conversation offers a timely look at the structural shifts in hemispheric relations that continue to define the current landscape. Over the past two decades, China has transformed its presence in Latin America and the Caribbean from a commercial relationship centered on trade into a [ … ]

From the quiet erosion of democratic norms to shifting diplomatic allegiances and the rise of transnational criminal networks, Beijing’s expanding influence is reshaping Latin America’s political and strategic landscape. In the second part of this interview with Diálogo, Ryan C. Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and [ … ]