Colombian authorities have committed to seize the “largest amount of cocaine in history,” according to an early 2023 directive from the Colombian government to combat narcotrafficking, Spanish news site Notimerica reported. “There needs to be a [total] seizure that represents historic figures […],” said Colombian Defense Minister Iván Velásquez on [ … ]
News
Brazilian Navy Unveils New Armored Vehicles with Fanfare
On March 7, the Brazilian Marine Corps (CFN) celebrated its 215th anniversary with a military ceremony held at the São José Fortress on Ilha das Cobras. During the ceremony, the Brazilian Navy took the opportunity to present its newest armored vehicle, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), acquired from U.S. [ … ]
Leaked Document Shows How Russia, China Collaborate on Censorship
Leaked documents provided to Voice of America’s (VOA) sister network RFE/RL confirm reports that Russia and China collaborate on censorship and internet control tactics. The materials detail documents and recordings said to be from closed-door meetings in 2017 and 2019 between officials from the Chinese and Russian agencies charged with [ … ]
Maduro and Organized Crime Harm Venezuela’s Nature Reserves
Illegal gold mining operations and armed groups and their obscure economic interests, in cahoots with the Nicolás Maduro regime, are contributing to the massive destruction of Venezuela’s nature reserves, Venezuelan human rights nongovernmental organization (NGO) FundaRedes says in a recent study. The study exposes the deterioration of 44 national parks, [ … ]
Central America, Mexico, and Dominican Republic, Together Against Crime
Central America, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic agreed to create a security strategy to have greater impact on the fight against organized crime; gangs; drug, arms, and human trafficking. Such was the outcome of the first Regional Conference of Security Ministers and Secretaries held in Guatemala City in February, Guatemala’s [ … ]
SOUTHCOM Commander, General Richardson, Visits Argentina, Chile
The commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, visited Argentina and Chile April 16-21 and met with leaders from both nations to discuss security cooperation. The U.S. shares longstanding defense partnerships with Argentina and Chile. Gen. Richardson’s visits to Argentina and Chile were both the general’s [ … ]
Women, Peace, and Security at the Perry Center
Military and civilian personnel from 14 Latin American and Caribbean partner nations gathered at the workshop “Strategic and Political Implications of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325: Women, Peace, and Security,” in Washington, D.C., April 12, 2023. The workshop was organized by the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric [ … ]
Paraguayan Air Force Turns 100
On March 5, the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP) celebrated its 100th anniversary with an open door festival at the historic Ñu Guazú Air Base in Luque, Central department. The celebration included an exhibition of airplanes and helicopters and airborne jumps, among others. The event, initially scheduled close to the February [ … ]
SOCSOUTH Sponsors Exercise with Chilean Army
The Chilean Army’s Special Operations Command (Cope), together with military personnel from U.S. Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), carried out a communications exercise (COMEX), to develop capabilities and integrate communications means, Cope said on social media. “This COMEX is the first communications exercise between the Special Operations Brigade [BOE] Lautaro [ … ]
Chile and DEA Strengthen Cooperation
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) met with the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI) to exchange experiences, strengthen police capability, and address emerging criminal scenarios related to narcotrafficking, the PDI and the U.S. Embassy in Chile said via Twitter. “This meeting was born out of the PDI’s latest investigative experiences, which [ … ]
Kentucky National Guard Conducts Senior Enlisted Leader Seminar with Ecuadorian Military
Members of the Kentucky National Guard (KYNG) participated in a Senior Enlisted Leader Seminar with 21 members of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces from March 20 – 24, 2023 in Quito, Ecuador. This seminar was conducted as an engagement through the State Partnership Program. The first of its kind in the [ … ]
US Air Forces Southern Provides Medical Care to More Than 1,100 in 2-month Lesser Antilles Mission
U.S. Air Forces Southern/12th Air Force completed Operation Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) in Castries, Saint Lucia, March 22, 2023. During the 56-day medical assistance mission, a team of 29 military healthcare professionals and support staff worked alongside local medical providers to deliver no-cost care to more than 1,100 [ … ]