On June 2, the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, in coordination with the Colombian Air Force, donated biosecurity equipment to the medical staff at El Tunal Hospital to protect doctors and nurses treating COVID-19 patients in this area of the country’s capital. Safety masks and goggles, N95 face masks, vinyl gloves, [ … ]
Capacity Building
Sanitary Matters and Illegal Activities Prompt South America to Strengthen Border Controls
Brazil has the highest number of coronavirus infections in all of South America, which is almost four times higher than Peru, the second most affected country. To prevent borders from contributing to an increase in the spread of the virus, Brazil’s neighboring countries are seeking joint solutions to fight the [ … ]
US, Caribbean Security Leaders Join Virtual Forum, Table-Top Exercise on Regional Mechanism to Mitigate Impact of Natural Disasters in a COVID-19 Environment
Defense and public security leaders from 13 Caribbean nations and four territories participated in the 2020 Caribbean Security Conference (CANSEC) June 2-3, hosted virtually for the first-time by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). At the beginning of hurricane season, this year’s CANSEC focused on regional mechanisms to mitigate the impact of [ … ]
SOUTHCOM Delivers Facilities to El Salvador’s Special Forces Command
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) presented the renovated headquarters of the Salvadoran Armed Forces’ (FAES, in Spanish) Special Forces Command (CFE, in Spanish), in Ilopango municipality, in the first week of May. The facilities will accommodate Salvadoran service members supporting the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the future will [ … ]
US Donation of Personal Protective Equipment Saves Lives in Honduras
Although the coronavirus outbreak has caused a global mask shortage, Dr. Scheybi Miralda Méndez makes her rounds at the University School Hospital (HEU, in Spanish) in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, knowing that she is wearing the right equipment to protect her patients and herself from any infection. She owes her peace of [ … ]
US, Peru Expand Space Data Sharing Partnership
U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) took another step in expanding its international space data sharing network — this time with Peru. Peruvian Air Force Major General Javier Tuesta Márquez, member of the Peruvian National Commission on Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA, in Spanish), and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Marcus A. Hitchcock, [ … ]
Peruvian Navy Develops Ventilators amid Coronavirus Emergency
The Peruvian Navy has developed the first mechanical ventilator made exclusively in the country to respond to the coronavirus crisis. Under the leadership of the Armed Forces, a team of engineers from the Peruvian Navy, universities, and private companies built the ventilator dubbed Samay, which means “breathe” in the Quechua [ … ]
Brazilian Navy Celebrates 40 Years of Women Integration in the Force
In 2020, the Brazilian Navy (MB, in Portuguese) celebrates the 40th anniversary of the integration of women in its institution. In 1980, Brazil created the Women’s Auxiliary Navy Reserve (CAFRM, in Portuguese) to enable women to work in technical, administrative, and health areas. A lot has changed since then. Although [ … ]
SOUTHCOM-Transferred Equipment Helps Fight Crime and Monitor Quarantined Areas in Jamaica
According to Lieutenant General Rocky Ricardo Meade, the most significant issues affecting Jamaica are organized criminal gangs, illicit trafficking, and associated violence. “The organized criminal gangs defending their turf will fight each other for influence […], illicit trafficking, and for the resources and funding from that,” said the Jamaica Defence [ … ]
571st MSAS Provides Key C-130 Training to Colombian Air Force
U.S. Air Force airmen from the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) worked with the Colombian Armed Forces as part of a mobile training team from February 11 through March 11 at two air bases in Colombia. The team was comprised of 15 air advisors from the 571st MSAS at [ … ]
Female Commander Seizes a Ton of Cocaine
On her first day as commander of the Colombian Navy Pacific Naval Force’s Coastal Patrol Vessel ARC José María Palas (PM-103), Lieutenant Yerliza Rodríguez coordinated a maritime interdiction, on February 1, 2020. After receiving relevant intelligence, Lt. Rodríguez deployed an operation at the mouth of the Naya River, Valle del [ … ]
Northern Triangle Service Members Strengthen Fight Against COVID-19
The Northern Triangle’s armed forces have deployed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have land, sea, and air border surveillance perimeters to help enforce the lockdown, as they continue to support public security and fight illicit trafficking. “We conduct constant surveillance on 186 blind [ … ]