Security & Cooperation Archives - Diálogo Américas

Guatemala, US Elite Forces Partnership Strengthens Fight Against Transnational Crime

As transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) become increasingly sophisticated, Guatemala continues to strengthen its special operations capabilities through sustained cooperation with U.S. special operations forces. That strategic partnership was demonstrated during a March 2026 exercise in Poptún, Petén Department, where U.S. Army Green Berets assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) trained alongside personnel from the Guatemalan Army’s Naval Special…

September 25, 2026

General Delgado: “It’s Impossible for a Single Country to Confront These Types of Threats”

Ecuador faces increasingly structured criminal organizations, with ties that extend beyond its borders and illicit activities ranging from drug trafficking and illegal mining to arms trafficking and money laundering. In response to this threat, the Ecuadorian Armed Forces are strengthening their operational capabilities and deepening cooperation with the United States and other countries in the hemisphere. Leading these efforts is…

September 23, 2026

Regional Partners Integrate Intelligence and Capabilities Against Transnational Criminal Networks

Countries across Latin America and the Caribbean are strengthening intelligence sharing, interoperability, and operational planning to confront transnational criminal organizations operating across borders and maritime routes. A new U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) structure seeks to support those efforts and help turn available information and capabilities into coordinated operations. Joint Task Force-Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM), activated on August 4, 2026, provides unified…

September 21, 2026

Adm. Dalle Nogare: “Everything Starts with a Local Initiative”

More than three decades of military service have taken Argentine Navy Admiral Marcelo Alejandro Dalle Nogare from command of Argentine Navy units and international naval operations to the highest levels of joint leadership. That trajectory, which includes experience in intelligence, combined operations, and international cooperation, has reinforced a conviction that shapes his view of transnational threats: No country can confront…

September 16, 2026

Chile, US Strengthen Geospatial Capabilities for Combined Operations

The Chilean Army and U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command (USAWHC) strengthened their geospatial capabilities and interoperability during a three-day exchange in Santiago, Chile, focused on how geographic information and data collection can support operational and tactical planning. Geospatial experts from the Chilean Army’s Military Geographic Institute and USAWHC’s 512th Engineer Detachment Geospatial Planning Cell, G-37 Engineer Directorate, and G-2 Intelligence…

September 09, 2026

Georgia Guard Soldiers Train Alongside US, Panamanian Partners in Jungle Operations

High heat, constant humidity, heavy rainfall, dense vegetation, dangerous animals, and countless insects are what soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade faced while training alongside other U.S. service members and Panamanian security forces at the Combined Jungle Training Center-South in Panama from June 13 through July 3. “The moment I stepped off the bus at the…

September 03, 2026

Vice Minister Cruz: “Criminal Networks Are Dynamic and Agile in Their Communications; Governments Must Be as Well”

Guatemala is transforming its border security model to respond to increasingly dynamic and sophisticated transnational criminal networks. The country is moving from an approach focused primarily on interdiction toward a strategy based on intelligence, risk analysis, and anticipation, with greater coordination among security, customs, and immigration authorities, as well as new technological and analytical capabilities. In an exclusive interview with…

September 02, 2026

SOUTHAM 2026 Brings South American Air Chiefs Together to Address Regional Challenges

Air chiefs and senior military leaders from across South America gathered in Tucson, Arizona, August 25-28 for the South American Air Chiefs Conference (SOUTHAM) 2026, a four-day conference focused on strengthening regional cooperation and developing coordinated approaches to shared security challenges across the Western Hemisphere. Hosted by U.S. Air Forces Southern/12th Air Force (AFSOUTH), the air component to U.S. Southern…

September 01, 2026

Minister Onofre: ‘The Challenges Know No Borders; Neither Should Our Response’

The Dominican Republic plays a key role in Caribbean security and in regional efforts to combat transnational organized crime. Its strategic location, maritime interdiction capabilities, and close cooperation with the United States and other allies have positioned the country as an important security partner in confronting criminal organizations that increasingly operate across borders, maritime routes, and international networks. Against this…

August 26, 2026

Minister Loffredo: ‘This Is the Time to Put an End to This Evil Once and for All’

The Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition is moving from planning to action. At its second meeting, held August 11-12 in Panama, defense and security officials from across the hemisphere analyzed transnational criminal threats, trafficking routes, and logistical networks and began identifying areas for joint action. Against this backdrop, Diálogo spoke with Ecuador’s Minister of National Defense Gian Carlo Loffredo about his country’s…

August 19, 2026

Guatemalan Soldiers, Arkansas National Guard Counterparts Build Interoperability

Guatemalan Army Special Forces and Arkansas National Guardsmen recently trained together at Fort Polk, Louisiana, during Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) rotation 26-08 as part of the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program (SPP) between Arkansas and Guatemala. Arkansas and Guatemala were paired together 24 years ago through the SPP. Numerous exchanges occur annually that address training,…

August 14, 2026

UNITAS 2026: Preparing Together for Maritime Threats

The Peruvian Navy and U.S. naval forces are making final preparations for UNITAS LXVII, the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise, scheduled for September in Ancón, Salinas, and other locations throughout Peru. This year’s edition will expand its traditional scope to include maritime, amphibious, Amazon, cyber defense, and, for the first time, a lake phase on Lake Titicaca. The evolution…