When she graduated with a Mass Communications degree (journalist) from the Externado University of Colombia in 1994, young Jhasmin Mora Cuellar knew exactly what she wanted to do in life. That’s why, two years later, she enrolled in the General José María Córdova Military Academy, where she graduated as a [ … ]
A Conversation With


Woman at the Command of C-130 Hercules for the First Time in the Colombian Air Force
On August 9, 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Andrea Silvana Díaz Bohórquez marked a milestone in the history of the Colombian Air Force, by becoming the first woman pilot-in-command of a C-130 Hercules aircraft. Lt. Col. Díaz, who has 22 years of military service, spoke with Diálogo about her achievements and her [ … ]

SS-22 Carrera Submarine Commander Discusses Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative and Training with the US
Five thousand nautical miles and nearly 30 days at sea — that’s the distance and time it took a Chilean submarine to travel from its home base in Talcahuano, Chile, to Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California, to participate in the Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) with the U.S. [ … ]

Chilean Submarine Forces Commander: Chile and the United States Have a Common Vision on the Importance of Navies
The SS Carrera, a Chilean Navy Scorpène-class submarine, participated in the Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) exercise at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California, which took place from June to September 2021. DESI is a U.S. Navy exercise with South American countries that supports their operations with diesel-electric submarines [ … ]

Colombian Army Has New Protection Capabilities
General Eduardo Enrique Zapateiro Altamiranda, commander of the Colombian Army, is committed to the fight against the country’s organized and remnant armed groups with international cooperation to confront transnational narcotrafficking threats. Diálogo spoke with Gen. Zapateiro about these issues at the Army Command headquarters in Bogotá. Diálogo: What are the [ … ]

JTF-Bravo: Regional Partner for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Response
Diálogo visited the installations of Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) in Honduras to interview their commander, U.S. Army Colonel Steven E. Gventer. Diálogo: What are your goals as JTF-Bravo commander? U.S. Army Colonel Steven Gventer, JFT-Bravo commander: My goal is to ensure that, coming out of COVID-19, we build a climate that [ … ]

Joint Special Operations Command, a Strategic Weapon for Colombia’s Security
The Colombian Military Forces’ Joint Special Operations Command (CCOES, in Spanish) began operations in April 2009. Its commander, Colombian Army Major General Jorge Isaac Hoyos Rojas, spoke with Diálogo during a visit to the CCOES headquarters in Bogotá in August 2021, to discuss the command’s mission and interagency work, among [ … ]

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 [ … ]

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 [ … ]

Unified Action Acceleration Plan, Investment and Security for Colombia
In July 2021, Colombia launched the Unified Action Acceleration Plan (PAAU, in Spanish) to strengthen interinstitutional coordination and reinforce the State’s presence in some areas of the country, with the aim of bringing social investment, low-complexity public works, tools to improve coexistence in these areas, and security. Diálogo spoke with [ … ]

General Luis Navarro: Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense Are Primary Tasks
Diálogo interviewed Colombian Army General Luis Fernando Navarro Jiménez, commanding general of the Colombian Military Forces, during the South American Defense Conference 2021, in Miami, Florida, August 17-18. Diálogo: What are the main regional challenges that South American countries must overcome together with the United States? Colombian Army General Luis [ … ]

Krishna Mathoera, Minister of Defense of Suriname: ‘Being a Woman Should Never Be an Obstacle to Be Successful or to Do the Extraordinary’
The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Breaking Barriers podcast features in each episode guests from the Defense and Security forces of Latin America and the Caribbean. This platform shares powerful stories and valuable insights on gains being made to recognize women as equal partners in preventing [ … ]