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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 fighter pilot with extensive international cooperation experience, Maj. Gen. Rodríguez…
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 is modernizing its Armed Forces to respond to an increasingly…
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 with Diálogo during the Florida International University (FIU) Hemispheric Security…
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 strengthen state capabilities and coordination with international partners in an…
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 been supported by close collaboration with the United States and…
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, including United Nations peacekeeping missions in Cyprus and roles as…
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 the Ecuadorian Armed Forces and expanding cooperation with international partners…
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. As China’s presence in Latin America has expanded, so too have the tools it uses to entrench influence beyond traditional diplomacy and investment. In the first part of this exclusive interview with Diálogo, Eric Farnsworth, partner…
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 far-reaching strategy with economic, political, technological, and security dimensions. What…
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 International Studies (CSIS), unpacks how China’s economic power translates into…
In the first part of this interview, Leonardo Coutinho, director of the Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS), painted a disturbing picture: Organized crime in Latin America is no longer a marginal phenomenon, but has become a potent political actor capable of disrupting economies, institutions, and regional stability. He highlighted Venezuela as the most extreme case of this transformation,…
Leonardo Coutinho, director of the Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS) and expert on drug trafficking, corruption, and transnational crime, spoke exclusively with Diálogo about the profound transformation of organized crime in Latin America. Coutinho warns that these structures are no longer just illicit businesses, but political actors with global influence. The most obvious case is Venezuela, where the…
