Paraguayan Air Force Supports Information Exchange to Combat Narcotrafficking

Paraguayan Air Force Supports Information Exchange to Combat Narcotrafficking

General Pablo Paredes González, commander of the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP, in Spanish) spoke with Diálogo during his participation at the South American Air Chiefs Conference, held in Tucson, Arizona, November 4–8.  Diálogo: What is your main challenge as commander of FAP? General Juan Pablo Paredes González, commander of the Paraguayan Air Force: I have two key priorities: the utmost…

VOA Exclusive Interview With US Southern Command Chief, Admiral Craig Faller

VOA Exclusive Interview With US Southern Command Chief, Admiral Craig Faller

The top U.S. commander in Latin America and the Caribbean says illicit narcotics money is now a "big part" of financing the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. "If you're a cartel leader, you now see an easy pathway through Venezuela into commercial shipping and air to distribute your product, and Maduro and his illegitimate regime are getting a cut,"…

Ecuadorean Air Force Bolsters Strategies To Counter Illicit Flights

Ecuadorean Air Force Bolsters Strategies To Counter Illicit Flights

Diálogo interviewed Lieutenant General Mauricio Campuzano Núñez, commander of the Ecuadorean Air Force (FAE, in Spanish), during his participation in the South American Air Chiefs Conference, held in Tucson, Arizona, November 4-8. Diálogo: What’s FAE’s greatest contribution in its 100 years of existence? Lieutenant General Mauricio Campuzano Núñez, commander of the Ecuadorean Air Force: The greatest contribution is to have…

Peruvian Air Force Committed To Space Security

Peruvian Air Force Committed To Space Security

Peruvian Air Force (FAP, in Spanish) Lieutenant General Raúl Hoyos de Vinatea, head of the Peruvian General Staff, attended the South American Air Chiefs and Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference, held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, November 4-8, 2019. Lt. Gen. Hoyos spoke with Diálogo about cybersecurity and the transnational crimes that affect his country. Diálogo: What’s the…

US 12th Air Force Builds Partnership With South American Air Forces

US 12th Air Force Builds Partnership With South American Air Forces

Diálogo interviewed U.S Major General Andrew A. Croft, Commander, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), at the South American Air Chiefs and Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference, held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, November 4-8, 2019. Diálogo: What is the importance of hosting the South American Air Chiefs Conference at the 12th Air Force’s headquarters? U.S. Major General…

Brazilian Air Force Strengthens Education and Defense Industry

Brazilian Air Force Strengthens Education and Defense Industry

General Antonio Carlos Moretti Bermudez, commander of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB, in Portuguese), spoke with Diálogo during the South American Air Chiefs and Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference, held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, November 4-8, 2019. Diálogo: When you took office as FAB commander in January 2019, you committed to improving your personnel’s professional instruction. What…

FOL Curaçao/Aruba in Support of Counter Drug Operations

FOL Curaçao/Aruba in Support of Counter Drug Operations

Aerial counter narcotics missions to deter transnational criminal organizations. The Curaçao/Aruba Forward Operating Location (FOL) provides round-the-clock airbase operations in support of multinational aerial counter-narcotics detection, monitoring, and tracking operations from partner nations and U.S. aircrafts. The United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed a 10-year access agreement in March 2000 and renovated it in 2010 to allow…

Special Military Security Brigade Leads Fight Against Narcotrafficking

Special Military Security Brigade Leads Fight Against Narcotrafficking

Salvadoran Army Colonel Roberto García Ochoa, commander of the Special Military Security Brigade (BESM, in Spanish) and the Sumpul Command, spoke with Diálogo during a visit to BESM headquarters in San Salvador, where he addressed his mission, challenges, and participation in the national effort to counter narcotrafficking. Diálogo: What is BESM’s mission? Salvadoran Army Colonel Roberto García Ochoa, commander of…

Salvadoran Army Committed To Citizen Security

Salvadoran Army Committed To Citizen Security

Diálogo met with Colonel Mario Adalberto Figueroa Cárcamo, chief of the Salvadoran Army General Staff (EMGE, in Spanish), during a visit to EMGE's headquarters in San Salvador. Col. Figueroa talked about his challenges, interagency work, and the Army’s role in citizen security. Diálogo: What's the most important challenge as commander of the Salvadoran Army? Colonel Mario Adalberto Figueroa Cárcamo, chief of the…

Orión, Regional Maritime Campaign to Counter Narcotrafficking

Orión, Regional Maritime Campaign to Counter Narcotrafficking

Colombian Navy Vice Admiral Gabriel Alfonso Pérez Garcés, chief of Naval Operations, spoke with Diálogo about Orión, a maritime and riverine campaign that strengthens interdiction operations to disrupt transnational narcotrafficking networks and related crimes. Diálogo: What does the Orión Maritime and Riverine Campaign consist of? Colombian Navy Vice Admiral Gabriel Alfonso Pérez Garcés, chief of Naval Operations: Orión is an initiative that arose from…

Interview with Brazilian Navy Rear Admiral Eduardo Augusto Wieland, UNIFIL-MTF Commander

Interview with Brazilian Navy Rear Admiral Eduardo Augusto Wieland, UNIFIL-MTF Commander

MB Rear Admiral Eduardo Augusto Wieland leads the naval component as UNIFIL-MTF commander. Diálogo: What is MB’s current participation in UNIFIL-MTF? Brazilian Navy Rear Admiral Eduardo Augusto Wieland, commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon’s Maritime Task Force: The Brazilian Navy contributes with the MTF Command and officers and noncommissioned officers of the General Staff , 21 in total, with a colonel…

Colombia Has First Joint Command Sergeant Major

Colombia Has First Joint Command Sergeant Major

Diálogo: You are the first Joint Command sergeant major of the Colombian Armed Forces. What's the significance of this promotion? Colombian Armed Forces’ Joint Command Sergeant Major Argemiro Posso Rivera: I was promoted in March 2018, and it's an honor and great responsibility for me to be the first NCO promoted to this position. When I took on this role, I set…