Browsing: Security & Cooperation

On the flight line at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, men and women loaded equipment into the belly of three CH-47 Chinooks. Their destination was Venezuela, where two powerful earthquakes had struck a day earlier and communities desperately needed help. Rather than having to make their way from thousands of miles away, the helicopters, crews, equipment, and the people…

Southern Vanguard 27 (SV27) began in Colombia, November 2, 2026. The exercise, which is scheduled to run until mid-November, brings together some 800 participants, including over 400 soldiers from the Colombian Army and about 350 U.S. military personnel. Pre-exercise activities began October 30 with an aeromedical evacuation scenario from Colombia’s Tolemaida Military Base to its Cavalry School in Bogotá. The…

Criminal organizations exploit national borders to move drugs, weapons, money, and people, build support networks, and shift their operations when authorities step up pressure. While these groups operate across multiple countries, security forces and judicial authorities remain bound by their respective jurisdictions. Bridging that gap is one of the main objectives of the Shield of the Americas. Fifteen governments participating…

Criminal networks trafficking drugs, weapons, and other illicit goods across the Americas operate without regard for national borders. To confront that threat, countries across the region are strengthening cooperation mechanisms that connect intelligence, capabilities, and operations beyond their territories. The Cusco Declaration and the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC) reflect that trend. Although they are separate initiatives, both seek to…

U.S. Marine Corps General Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) visited Peru, October 13-15 to advance joint efforts to combat narcoterrorism and hemispheric threat networks (HTNs) in support of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (ACCC) and strengthen the U.S.-Peru security partnership. This was Gen. Donovan’s first visit to Peru as SOUTHCOM commander. During the visit, Gen. Donovan joined…

Colombia’s entry into the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (ACCC) strengthens hemispheric cooperation against transnational organized crime, bringing decades of operational experience and expertise in confronting threats that extend across national borders. Intelligence, maritime and riverine interdiction, special operations, financial investigations, technology, and training are among the capabilities Colombia brings to the Coalition. Developed through years of operations against drug trafficking, armed…