With the official endorsement of the U.S. Department of State in early 2026, the government of Peru is moving forward with a historic $1.5 billion initiative to modernize and relocate the Callao Naval Base. This project, coordinated through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, represents a landmark in bilateral cooperation, [ … ]
U.S. Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion (2nd CEB) conducted bilateral training alongside Panamanian security forces during Panamanian Partnership 26-3A, January 10-February 26. The purpose of the partnership and training was to reinforce readiness and interoperability through combined training in dense jungle terrain and austere range environments. The 45-day training [ … ]
U.S. Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH) and the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis concluded the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2026 engagement during a closing ceremony in Basseterre on March 6, marking the completion of a two-week medical collaboration across St. Kitts and Nevis. During the mission, U.S. Air [ … ]
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has transcended mere environmental concerns to become a structural challenge that directly threatens the maritime security and national sovereignty of South American nations. The relentless expansion of the Chinese distant-water fishing fleet across the Pacific and South Atlantic has forced coastal states to step [ … ]
Ecuador kicked off coordinated security operations this month with regional partner nations and the United States, in an intensified push against transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The announcement came March 2 following a meeting in Quito between President Daniel Noboa and U.S. Marine Corps General Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. [ … ]
The expansion of organized crime has transformed regional insecurity into a top priority for Latin America, prompting a surge in cross-border cooperation and institutional reform. Recent data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) underscores the impact of these criminal networks on governance and economic growth; however, these [ … ]
Ecuador, which until a decade ago was perceived as a relatively stable country in a region rife with transnational crime, now faces a pivotal test of its sovereignty. At the heart of this transformation are Los Choneros and Los Lobos, two powerful criminal structures the Ecuadorian government designated as terrorist [ … ]
U.S. Marine Corps General Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), met with President Daniel Noboa and senior Ecuadorian defense officials on March 2 in Quito, Ecuador, to discuss security cooperation and reaffirm the United States’ strong commitment to supporting the nation’s efforts to confront narco-terrorism and strengthen [ … ]
China has modified its approach in Latin America, adopting a less visible but more structural strategy of influence. This new direction focuses on specific investments in strategic sectors such as telecommunications, energy, and technology. This change not only redefines traditional methods of external influence but also raises profound questions about [ … ]
Cocaine production has surged to unprecedented levels across Latin America, fueled by a simultaneous expansion of illicit crops in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. This phenomenon is further exacerbated by the expansion of complex transnational trafficking corridors that facilitate the movement of narcotics across the hemisphere. This escalating output has empowered [ … ]
In a continued effort to bolster regional health security, Civil Affairs Team (CAT) 4361 — assigned to Army Forces Battalion, Joint Task Force-Bravo — and U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Humanitarian Assistance Program partnered with the Guatemalan Ministry of Health to deliver a significant equipment donation on January 28, 2026. The [ … ]
December 2025 will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the modernization of the Argentine Armed Forces. In the span of just 48 hours, the country simultaneously restored its supersonic air capabilities and introduced a new generation of armored vehicles to its ground forces, signaling a decisive shift toward NATO-standard [ … ]
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