Female participation in the Chilean Armed Forces has a long history that began more than 40 years ago. However, women’s contribution in the military sector has gained greater recognition in the last 10 years, and Chilean women have continued to excel professionally. More recently, the 14,000 Chilean women in the [ … ]
Recent News
The United States Continues to Support Ecuador in the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime
The United States has worked together with different Ecuadorian state institutions to jointly confront transnational organized crime. This problem is the largest threat facing both societies, posing a risk to the rule of law, peace, and security in the region. On March 3, the U.S. Embassy’s Bureau of International Narcotics [ … ]
Colombian Military Committed to Reconstruction Efforts in Islands Hit by Hurricane Iota
Four months after Hurricane Iota devastated the Colombian Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, the Colombian Military Forces continue to show their dedication to the affected communities. In mid-March, the Colombian Navy amphibious landing ship ARC Golfo de Urabá provided additional logistics support and humanitarian aid to the [ … ]
Brazilian Army Carries Out Jungle Training for UN Troops in the Congo
In February, the Brazilian Army (EB, in Portuguese) initiated jungle training for a subunit of the 15th South African Infantry Battalion, which is part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO, in French). Launched in July 2010, MONUSCO’s mission aims to protect civilians [ … ]
Costa Rican Ministry of Justice Receives Vehicle Donation
A total of 16 brand-new vehicles are now part of the fleet of the Costa Rican Ministry of Justice and Peace’s Penitentiary Police and its K-9 Unit, thanks to a donation from the U.S. Embassy through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, on March 15. The vehicles [ … ]
Panama Seizes More than 20 Tons of Drugs in Two Months
Panamanian security forces continue to deal serious blows to narcotrafficking, seizing more than 20 tons of drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, in operations carried out between January and early March 2021. In the five most recent operations, most carried out in Panamanian ports, authorities were able to stop the shipment [ … ]
Argentina Creates Maritime Joint Command to Fight Predatory Fishing
On March 2, the Argentine government announced the creation of the Maritime Joint Command (CCM, in Spanish), which will report to the Armed Forces. The CCM’s goal will be to monitor, control, and preserve territorial waters and maritime resources, as well as to combat foreign vessels’ predatory fishing practices. “National [ … ]
Border, Hemispheric Security Discussed at Hearing
An increase in migrants coming across the southern border, threats to the Western Hemisphere by China, and solutions to those and other problems were discussed on March 16 at a U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing. U.S. Air Force General Glen D. VanHerck and U.S. Navy Admiral Craig S. [ … ]
Colombia Captures Top Leader of a Criminal Group
In a joint operation, the Colombian Air Force, the Army, the Police, and the Office of the Attorney General captured alias Carlos or Rana Platanera, top leader of the criminal group Ismael Ruiz Front, on March 3, 2021. The criminal was carrying two handguns at the time of his arrest [ … ]
US, NATO Defense Leaders Discuss the Future of Western Hemisphere Security
Senior military leaders from the U.S. Department of Defense, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom held strategic level discussions to explore the future of the Western Hemisphere’s security through a trans-Atlantic lens. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) hosted the Allies Conference 2021 – Optimizing for Uncertainty, a half a [ … ]
Chinese Project in Brazil is Criticized for its High Cost and Environmental Impact
On November 12, 2020, a Chinese consortium consisting of three state-run companies signed a contract with Bahia state, in northeast Brazil. The venture established a partnership to build a 12.4-kilometer long bridge, the second largest in Latin America. Construction is expected to begin in 2021 and last for five years. [ … ]
Brazil: Agents Seize More than 1 Ton of Cocaine Bound for Belgium
On March 9, 2021, Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) agents arrested seven men carrying more than 1 ton of cocaine at Santos Port, São Paulo. The drug was bound for Antwerp, Belgium. Police officers were dispatched when surveillance cameras detected the suspicious movements of a truck inside one of [ … ]