Get the latest security and defense stories from across the Americas.
In recent years, China’s expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean has been a topic of discussion in the world’s major political and economic circles. And the reason is clear: China seeks to become the region’s main trading partner and leader over the rest of the world in the financing, construction, and operation of marine terminals in Latin America and…
With a triple action of state investment, diplomacy, and geostrategic corruption, China is leading the race for lithium. This situation was discussed in the first part of this report, exposing the tactics of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to conquer the Andean countries rich in this metal. But what is a gain for China is a loss for Latin…
With its vast salt flats, Latin America is rich in a metal that has become more sought after than gold: lithium. Known as white gold or the oil of the 21st century, this metal is now essential for energy transition and the booming market for electric cars. The so-called Lithium Triangle, located in the Andean highlands and comprising Bolivia, Argentina,…
In the last two decades, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has played a fundamental role in the economies of Latin America. Between 2005 and 2017, China lent several countries in the region close to $136 billion. The amount exceeded what, for the same period, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the CAF-Development Bank of Latin America together…
Colombia is currently the 16th largest gold producer worldwide and the third largest in Latin America, according to the Statista world ranking. In 2022 alone, the country exported 70.7 tons of gold worth $2.9 billion, according to figures from Colombia’s National Mining Agency. Following oil, coal, and coffee, gold is Colombia’s fourth largest export product. The price of gold increased…
In the aftermath of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine last year, global attitudes toward Russia’s leadership have shifted dramatically, with large majorities of the population in dozens of countries reporting disapproval of the Kremlin. Data compiled from surveys of thousands of people in 137 countries and regions showed a marked decline in approval of the Kremlin, according to…
China’s influence continues to grow through global development and its Belt and Road Initiative. So what’s next? China’s vast overseas development spending has made Beijing one of the most sought-after financiers from countries around the globe. From 2000 to 2017, China’s loans and grants totaled $843 billion across 165 countries, according to a database by AidData, a university research lab at…
Guatemala, Haiti, Belize and Paraguay are the only countries in the Americas that recognize Taiwan's independence; the rest maintain commercial and bilateral relations with the People's Republic of China, which is gaining more and more ground in Latin America. SAN SALVADOR - China's influence in Latin America has almost completely displaced Taiwan's influence in the region: right now, there are…
The little-noticed program that led to a Chinese spy balloon drifting across the United States this month has been discussed in China’s state-controlled media for more than a decade in articles extolling its potential military applications. The reports, dating back to at least 2011, focus on how best to exploit what is known as “near space” — that portion of…
ISLAMIC MILITARY COUNTER TERRORISM COALITION The internet is globally decentralized, which allows for anonymity and contributes to its use as a platform for illegal activities, including property crimes and the promotion of violent extremism. Against such a backdrop of susceptibility — the exploitation of the internet by extremists and terrorists — governments face a challenge to contain these criminals who…
If the term "illegal fishing" conjures images of small numbers of scattered vessels independently pirating the sea's resources, think again. The problem of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing stems increasingly from state-supported deep water fishing fleets, including massive trawlers accompanied by sustainment vessels, freezer, and transport vessels. Operating continuously in large groups with global reach, these industrial-scale flotillas are…
Soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a Russian cargo plane idled on a runway in Khartoum, Sudan. According to CNN, the plane’s manifest claimed it was loaded with cookies. When inspectors boarded the plane to confirm its contents, they found some cookies. But beneath the cookies, they also found one ton of smuggled gold bound for Russia to help finance…
