Browsing: Spotlight Interviews

The Brazilian Air Force possesses unique air capabilities that help victims in the event of natural disasters. Brazilian Air Force General Carlos Vuyk de Aquino, commander of Aerospace Operations, follows military doctrine verbatim. For him, humanitarian aid missions to alleviate human suffering in the aftermath of natural disasters are a point of pride for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB, per…

The Argentine Air Force is uniquely committed to plan and execute combined air operations to help mitigate the effects of natural disasters. With such statement, Argentine Air Force Lieutenant General Oscar Charadía, commander of Enlistment and Training, opened his presentation at the South American Air Chiefs Conference, held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, October 31st –November 3rd,…

“Natural disasters have become a new threat to the region,” General Javier Ramírez Guillén, commander of the Peruvian Air Force (FAP, per its Spanish acronym), said during his presentation at the South American Air Chiefs Conference. “We must unite to be ready to face natural disasters effectively,” he added. The conference was held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, in Tucson,…

Defending the skies above Ecuador is not the Air Force’s only role. For Brigadier General Patricio Mora Escobar, commander of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE, per its Spanish acronym), maintaining domain over the nation’s airspace and conducting air operations to defend national sovereignty are essential duties. Yet the Ecuadorian Air Force is also well known for the humanitarian aid and…

Brigadier General Hugo Marenco, commander of Air Operations Command of the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU, per its Spanish acronym), has one specific mission: plan and conduct his institution’s air operations. In this task, Brig. Gen. Marenco seeks to establish his country’s air force as an international leader. The high degree of training and professionalism of his staff and the upgrade…

Peru’s participation in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions is decades old—the nation is a founding member of the UN. In fact, in 1988, under the leadership of former UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, who was Peruvian, UN Peacekeeping Forces received the Nobel Peace Prize. Peru’s participation in UN missions goes back to 1958, when the nation sent troops to…

Diálogo spoke with Brazilian Navy Admiral Ademir Sobrinho about the main challenges he faces as chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces, such as cyberdefense, combating transregional crime, and other relevant issues. Diálogo: What are your priorities as chief of Defense of the Brazilian Armed Forces? Brazilian Navy Admiral Ademir Sobrinho, chief of Defense of the Brazilian Armed Forces: Without a…

Major General Jorge Orlando Céliz Kuong, commander of the Peruvian Army’s 5th Division, is perhaps the best person to discuss the support the Armed Forces provide to civilians impacted by drug trafficking and terrorism in Peru. The 5th Division is headquartered in Loreto, Peru’s largest region. The region encompasses nearly 3,600 square kilometers, close to 30 percent of the Peruvian…

Managing security, defense, and policy matters in the Western Hemisphere is a key element of the U.S. relations with its regional partners. For retired U.S. Army Colonel Sergio de la Peña, a native of Mexico, the commitment is personal. In his role as the U.S. Department of Defense’s deputy assistant secretary of defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, he is responsible…

The South American Defense Conference 2017 (SOUTHDEC) was held from August 22th to 24th in Lima, Peru, where Diálogo spoke with Army General Juan José Saavedra Fernández, the chief of Uruguay’s Defense General Staff. Gen. Saavedra talked about women’s integration into the Uruguayan Armed Forces and the international recognition that Uruguay enjoys due to its historic contribution to United Nations…