Senior army leaders from 21 Western Hemisphere nations gathered in the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2023 Conference of American Armies (CAA) Commanders Conference beginning on November 6. Brazil served as the host of this year’s conference as they concluded their role as the Permanent Executive [ … ]
News
Nicaragua Legalizes Political Persecution
The Daniel Ortega-Rosario Murillo regime sanctions judicial persecution to punish public officials and all those who dare to investigate corruption in Nicaragua. Such was one of the main conclusions of a report by the Center for Transdisciplinary Studies of Central America (CETCAM), a social research institute based in Costa Rica. [ … ]
Partnership Endures as Exercise Southern Vanguard 24 Comes to an End
As the final salute echoed through the air, the closing ceremony of Southern Vanguard 24 signified a note of triumph and unity. After almost three weeks of training, the U.S. and Brazilian armies stood together one final time in Oiapoque, Brazil, November 16. The ceremony not only celebrated the successful [ … ]
Guyana, Venezuela Essequibo Dispute Exacerbates
As the territorial dispute over the Essequibo intensifies, Guyana, is putting its foot down, rejecting negotiations with Venezuela. “The time for negotiation is over. There will be no need for talks with Nicolás Maduro,” Guyanese Prime Minister Mark Phillips said during an extraordinary session of the Guyanese Legislature in early [ … ]
Royal Bahamas Defence Force Breaks Up Human Trafficking Ring Near Bimini
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) detained 17 Ecuadorian migrants and two alleged human traffickers in September 2023, as the armed forces of Caribbean nations continue to confront sources of regional instability caused by transnational criminal organizations. Recent political upheaval in Ecuador amid rising crime rates and cartel activity has [ … ]
Costa Rica’s 5G Network to Exclude China and Russia
Costa Rica is moving forward with preparations for its 5G spectrum auction, a year after a cyberattack caused chaos in its government computer systems. As a protective measure, the government approved a decree banning firms from countries that have not agreed to an international cybercrime convention, leaving tech companies from [ … ]
US Marine Corps and Brazilian Naval Infantry Strengthen Strategic Partnership
In a show of international cooperation and a commitment to enhancing military partnership and capabilities, the Brazilian Marine Corps recently hosted an annual planning conference with representatives from U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South October 23-27. The Operational Naval Infantry Committee (ONIC) brought together senior leaders, planning officers, and enlisted members [ … ]
Iran Has an Eye for Antarctica
Four months after Iranian Navy warships undertook a trip that took them along the coasts of Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, among many other countries, its Naval chief announced plans to establish a base in Antarctica “for military and scientific purposes.” “Iran’s rapprochement with Latin America seeks to demonstrate that [ … ]
China under Scrutiny over Bogotá Metro Project
An ongoing investigation into alleged bribery of politicians has cast a shadow over the progress of the Bogotá Metro construction project in Colombia, led by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). The uproar adds to a series of challenges facing the consortium with its international projects. “It is crucial for countries [ … ]
US, Brazilian Soldiers Improve Combined Readiness during CORE 23/Southern Vanguard 24
With the goal of increasing interoperability, U.S. and Brazilian forces gathered in the Brazilian Amazon to carry out exercise Southern Vanguard 24, November 1-16. For two weeks, U.S. Army soldiers and their Brazilian counterparts carried out air assault operations, urban operations, and weapons familiarization in the rough jungle terrain. The [ … ]
China Seeks to Increase International Disinformation
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is attempting to alter the international information environment in its favor, a U.S. State Department special report indicated. In this process, Beijing allocates significant amounts of money to assemble a global information system that promotes its propaganda and facilitates censorship and the dissemination of [ … ]
Guatemala Beefs Up Its Border with Mexico Against Drug Trafficking Cartels
The violence engendered by criminal narcotrafficking groups has prompted the Guatemalan Army to mobilize 2,000 soldiers to protect its border with Mexico, Spanish news agency EFE reported. On October 20, the Guatemalan Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the troops are deployed in the municipalities of Tacaná, Ixchiguán, and Tajumulco, [ … ]