In the uncertain times of the 21st century, the role of diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, international organizations, and coalitions of allies and partners is more important than ever before. Today, the challenges facing most nations are less about state-on-state military conflict and more about asymmetric threats from terrorist or criminal groups, [ … ]
Since the Constitution of 1991, Colombia has become a social state under the rule of law; that is, the state must ensure the integrity of citizens, and therefore, the country’s sovereignty rests with the people. It is a state with a democratic political system that has developed successfully in recent [ … ]
It is commonly understood that the internet age has meant a significant shift in how citizens get their information, and that the social media era has generated more opportunity for disinformation and misinformation to flourish. While this may be true, it overlooks that the same opportunity bad actors exploit is [ … ]
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has proliferated globally, resulting in myriad uses, both military and civilian. With the steady rise in non-military uses comes the potential and dangers of this technology’s misuse. Presently, the Latin America (LATAM) region is home to major energy and extractive industries infrastructure, port, and [ … ]
Colombian President Iván Duque raised eyebrows in August 2020 when claiming that the regime of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro was seeking to acquire medium-to-long-range missiles from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The claim came within the context of increased Tehran-Caracas commercial cooperation in 2020, sending upward of 2.35 million barrels of [ … ]
“The women who make up the Guatemalan Army are, like the rest of the members of this institution, soldiers in the service of their country, who serve without distinctions, other than those earned by their meritorious acts. Many of them, with their service, have strengthened the institutional response to the [ … ]
More than 100 miles from shore, near the coast of West Africa, I accompanied marine police officers from Gambia as they arrested 15 foreign ships for labor violations and illegal fishing over the course of a week in 2019. All but one of the vessels arrested were from China. At [ … ]
No nation can afford to ignore half its population. That’s the premise of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on the Women, Peace, and Security program. It is good to remember this on International Women’s Day. In 2017, U.S. Congress passed the Women, Peace, and Security Act that called [ … ]
ADSUMUS is a Latin word meaning “here we are.” Responding with ADSUMUS means that one is ready and present to answer a call or an order at any time. As such, members of the Brazilian Marine Corps (CFN, in Portuguese), which celebrates its 213th anniversary on March 7, use the [ … ]
The alarm goes off at 6 a.m. He wakes up and begins a typical military morning routine, with a good shave and a shower. Following a full breakfast, he starts what he sees as one the most gratifying part of the mission: giving smiles and hugs not only to his [ … ]
From the economic downturn forecasted by economists to the ongoing migration crisis of Venezuelan refugees and the wave of protests as citizens react to electoral fraud, grand corruption, and crippling austerity measures, the trends currently underway across our hemisphere indicate a period of challenges for democracies ahead. Recent polls from [ … ]
On July 10, 2020, during a visit to U.S. Southern Command, U.S. President Donald J. Trump emphasized the importance of interagency coordination and international cooperation in the fight against narcotrafficking in the Caribbean and Latin America. Although this problem is not exclusive to the region, Latin America suffers numerous consequences [ … ]
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