The Colombian Military Forces’ General Command (CGFM, in Spanish) reported on November 12, 2020 that Army troops captured Leison Jiménez Mosquera, designer and developer of semisubmersibles for narcotrafficking. The operation took place in San Juan municipality, Chocó department. “Jiménez [is] accused of being a link between narcotraffickers and the National [ … ]
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Panama Has Seized More than 3 Tons of Drugs So Far in 2021
So far this year, Panama has seized a minimum of 3.1 tons of drugs in at least seven operations, the National Air and Naval Service (SENAN, in Spanish), Panama’s main anti-drug institution, reported on January 26. “During the 2021 period to date, the National Air and Naval Service, through the [ … ]
Guyana, US Sign Cooperation Agreement
U.S. Navy Admiral Craig S. Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and Brigadier Godfrey Bess, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) chief of Staff, signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement at Guyana’s State House, on January 12, 2021. The agreement will facilitate logistics support between both countries in combined exercises, deployment, [ … ]
USCG Cutter Stone Visits Port of Montevideo
On January 25, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Uruguay Jennifer Savage, together with Uruguayan Navy representatives, welcomed the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone (USCGC Stone) in the Port of Montevideo — the first visit of this kind in more than a decade. The ship, under the command of Captain Adam [ … ]
USS Freedom Completes Tri-lateral PASSEX with El Salvador, Guatemala
The Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) executed a passing exercise (PASSEX) with its naval counterparts from El Salvador and Guatemala, January 21. PASSEXs are a series of advanced close proximity maneuvering exercises designed to improve interoperability and advance partner nations’ ability to communicate, navigate, and operate together [ … ]
US Coast Guard Cutter Stone Visits Brazil on a Multilateral Mission to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing
The U.S. Coast Guard’s brand new National Security Cutter, the USCGC Stone, departed from Pascagoula, Mississippi, on December 22, 2020, on its inaugural sail, the Operation Southern Cross, aimed to counter illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing in the South Atlantic. Operation Southern Cross will strengthen relationships with partner nations [ … ]
US Deepens Military Ties with Suriname Through High-level Visit
U.S. Navy Admiral Craig S. Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Suriname on January 13, 2021, deepening the already friendly military ties between the two nations. During the visit, Adm. Faller had a working meeting with Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, met with Minister of Defense Krishna Mathoera, and [ … ]
Admiral Says US Aims to Expand Competitive Space in Latin America
Two key concepts of the U.S. National Defense Strategy are partnerships and expanding the competitive space in all domains — and that’s what the U.S. Defense Department is doing at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and globally, said U.S. Navy Admiral Craig S. Faller, SOUTHCOM commander. Adm. Faller said on January [ … ]
Brazilian Defense and Security Policy Must Prioritize Climate Change Challenges, Says International Report
“Climate change is much more than an environmental issue; it represents a serious challenge to peace and stability across the world.” This begins the report Climate and Security in Brazil, which is part of the World Climate and Security Report 2020 briefer series of the International Military Council on Climate [ … ]
US Sanctions Colombian Narcotrafficker with Links to Clan del Golfo
On December 1, the United States announced sanctions on Jhon Fredy Zapata Garzón, an “important narcotrafficker” from Colombia, along with three other Colombia-based associates, for allegedly sending tons of drugs to the United States for the Clan del Golfo, the largest criminal organization in Colombia. The U.S. Department of the [ … ]
Brazilian Navy Launches New Submarine at Sea
The Brazilian Navy (MB, in Portuguese) launched submarine Humaitá (S-41) at sea, at the Madeira Island Naval Complex, in Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro, on December 11, 2020. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Minister of Defense Fernando Azevedo e Silva, and MB Admiral Ilques Barbosa Júnior, MB commander, attended the event. [caption [ … ]
Narcotrafficking Endangers Colombian and Ecuadorean Siona Community
The Siona community, located on the banks of the Putumayo River in Colombia and in the Sucumbíos province in northeastern Ecuador, risks extinction due to the presence of armed groups, paramilitaries, and narcotrafficking, according to the December 3, 2020 report Narcotrafficking Violence Destroys Forests and Corners the Siona People on [ … ]