Investing in Citizen Security: Common Solutions for Common Problems

Investing in Citizen Security: Common Solutions for Common Problems

In a context where organized crime affects numerous communities across Latin America, citizen security has become one of the population’s primary concerns. For Cristian Zamora, mayor of Cuenca, Ecuador, and president of the Latin American Federation of Cities, Municipalities, and Associations of Local Governments (FLACMA), strengthening citizen participation and community cohesion is a fundamental part of the solution. During the…

Radiological Security and Organized Crime: A New Challenge for the Hemisphere

Radiological Security and Organized Crime: A New Challenge for the Hemisphere

As Latin America expands the use of radiological materials in hospitals, research centers, agriculture, and energy infrastructure, radiological security is becoming an increasingly important component of the hemisphere’s security architecture. In an exclusive interview with Diálogo, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warns that the possible diversion or illicit use of nuclear and radiological materials…

Peru Bets on Sovereign Capabilities in the Space and Cyber Domains

Peru Bets on Sovereign Capabilities in the Space and Cyber Domains

With more than 30 years of service in the Peruvian Air Force, Major General Mariano Nieves Rodríguez Llerena now leads the country’s efforts in two of the most strategic and emerging domains of modern defense: space and cyberspace. Commander of the Peruvian Air Force Space and Cyberspace Command and a fighter pilot with extensive international cooperation experience, Maj. Gen. Rodríguez…

Argentina Reshapes Its Armed Forces for a New Era of Security Threats

Argentina Reshapes Its Armed Forces for a New Era of Security Threats

Argentina is undertaking one of its most significant defense transformations in decades, reshaping a doctrine historically centered on conventional conflicts to address transnational threats, critical infrastructure protection, cyber defense, and maritime surveillance. In this exclusive interview with Diálogo, Argentine Defense Minister Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti outlines how the country is modernizing its Armed Forces to respond to an increasingly…

From Drug Trafficking Corridor to Key Player in Hemispheric Security, Guatemala Redefines Its Defense Strategy

From Drug Trafficking Corridor to Key Player in Hemispheric Security, Guatemala Redefines Its Defense Strategy

Guatemala is positioning itself as a strategic player in regional defense, taking a more assertive role in confronting the expansion of transnational organized crime and the growing threats facing hemispheric security. This was the assessment shared by Minister of National Defense Major General Henry David Sáenz, in an exclusive interview with Diálogo during the Florida International University (FIU) Hemispheric Security…

Iván Duque: Security in the Americas Requires Intelligence, Cooperation, and Shared Responsibility

Iván Duque: Security in the Americas Requires Intelligence, Cooperation, and Shared Responsibility

A key figure in the hemispheric debate on security, governance, and international cooperation, former Colombian president Iván Duque Márquez (2018–2022) has established himself as one of the most influential voices in the region in addressing the challenges of organized crime and transnational threats. During his administration, he promoted initiatives to strengthen state capabilities and coordination with international partners in an…

Minister Ábrego on Panama’s Role in Regional Security and Counter-Narco-Terrorism Efforts

Minister Ábrego on Panama’s Role in Regional Security and Counter-Narco-Terrorism Efforts

Under the leadership of Minister of Public Security Frank Ábrego, Panama has strengthened its role as a key partner in regional security. The country has intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, curb irregular migration through the Darién region, and safeguard strategic infrastructure such as the Panama Canal. These efforts have been supported by close collaboration with the United States and…

Paraguay Consolidates Its Role as a Strategic Partner in the Region

Paraguay Consolidates Its Role as a Strategic Partner in the Region

Army Colonel Lorenzo Agustín Cabrera Burgos is a senior officer in the Paraguayan Armed Forces with extensive experience in international operations, military education, and multinational cooperation. A graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, he has developed a career marked by operational leadership and institutional strengthening, including United Nations peacekeeping missions in Cyprus and roles as…

Defense Minister Loffredo: Regional Cooperation Is Essential to Defeat Narco-terrorism

Defense Minister Loffredo: Regional Cooperation Is Essential to Defeat Narco-terrorism

Ecuador’s Minister of Defense Gian Carlo Loffredo Rendón has been at the forefront of the country’s efforts to combat organized crime and narco-terrorism during one of the most challenging security periods in its recent history. Since taking office in November 2023, Minister Loffredo has focused on strengthening the capabilities of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces and expanding cooperation with international partners…

China in Latin America: Strategic Engagement, Leverage, and Democratic Risk – PART II

China in Latin America: Strategic Engagement, Leverage, and Democratic Risk – PART II

Originally conducted in mid-2025, the following conversation offers a timely look at the structural shifts in hemispheric relations that continue to define the current landscape. As China’s presence in Latin America has expanded, so too have the tools it uses to entrench influence beyond traditional diplomacy and investment. In the first part of this exclusive interview with Diálogo, Eric Farnsworth, partner…

China in Latin America: Strategic Engagement, Leverage, and Democratic Risk – PART I

China in Latin America: Strategic Engagement, Leverage, and Democratic Risk – PART I

Originally conducted in mid-2025, the following conversation offers a timely look at the structural shifts in hemispheric relations that continue to define the current landscape. Over the past two decades, China has transformed its presence in Latin America and the Caribbean from a commercial relationship centered on trade into a far-reaching strategy with economic, political, technological, and security dimensions. What…

China’s Expanding Footprint in Latin America: Hidden Strengths and Emerging Risks — PART II

China’s Expanding Footprint in Latin America: Hidden Strengths and Emerging Risks — PART II

From the quiet erosion of democratic norms to shifting diplomatic allegiances and the rise of transnational criminal networks, Beijing’s expanding influence is reshaping Latin America’s political and strategic landscape. In the second part of this interview with Diálogo, Ryan C. Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), unpacks how China’s economic power translates into…