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During the 2017 South American Defense Conference (SOUTHDEC), held in Lima, Peru, from August 22nd to 24th, several discussion panels were organized to address issues in a group format. For example, one panel focused on several countries' cyberdefense strategies. Colombia took part in it as a South American leader in this area. In order to examine cyberdefense and other topics involving…
AMAZONLOG 2017 will be the first inter-agency humanitarian-logistics exercise to be held in South America. Scheduled from November 6th-13th, it will take place in the Amazon town of Tabatinga, state of Amazonas, along the three-country border of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. In addition to the participation of the three countries' armed forces and logistics support from the United States, the…
Brazilian Air Force Major General Reis Tavares, the deputy director of International Affairs at the Brazilian Ministry of Defense, was Brazil’s representative at the 2017 South American Defense Conference (SOUTHDEC). The general moderated a panel discussion on cyberattacks. Among other important information, he said that in the last two years there has been an increase of more than 270 percent…
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) activated Joint Task Force-Leeward Islands (JTF-LI) to support humanitarian assistance and foreign disaster relief efforts in the Caribbean. Hurricane Irma was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands, comprising more than 10 islands located between the northeastern Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean, in decades. U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Michael Samarov, commander…
At the end of the 2017 South American Defense Conference (SOUTHDEC), which took place August 22nd to 24th in Lima, Peru, the coordinators announced that, the 2018 edition of the event will be held in Argentina for the first time, with the Argentine Armed Forces hosting in conjunction with U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). To learn about the main challenges facing…
This has been a very special year for the Peruvian Armed Forces. Since the event originated in 2010, the country hosted the 2017 South American Defense Conference (SOUTHDEC), for the second time, along with U.S. Southern Command. The year 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of what is considered one of the most successful hostage-rescue operations in history – Operation Chavín…
In March 2017, Peru was impacted by El Niño Costero, a weather event characterized by an unusual heating of the ocean along the coast of Peru and Ecuador. In Peru, the phenomenon affected more than a million people nationwide and left more than 100 dead. Despite the tragedy, Peru co-hosted the 2017 South American Defense Conference (SOUTHDEC) along with the…
The unique military capabilities of Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo), a task force under U.S. Southern Command located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, are now under new leadership. U.S. Army Col. Keith McKinley assumed command of JTF-Bravo on July 10th to direct its five supporting commands, eight directorates, a diversity of staff, and many multinational engagements. Col. McKinley brings with…
Uruguay has distinguished itself in peacebuilding through its involvement in various missions with the United Nations and other international organizations. Headquartered in Rome, the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) is an independent international organization created as the result of an accord between Egypt and Israel, tasked with the responsibility of keeping peace in the Sinai. The origins of MFO lie…
Major General Juan Manuel Pérez Ramírez, chief of the Joint Staff of Guatemala, has enjoyed a long military career. With more than 30 years of military training and service, especially supporting peacekeeping operations, and combating terrorism and organized crime, Maj. Gen. Pérez Ramírez today finds himself focused on modernizing the Guatemalan Army in order to counter threats to national security.…
U.S. Army Colonel Keith Anthony, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation commandant, spoke to Diálogo about the institute’s curriculum and the challenges and achievements he faces in his third year at its helm*, among other topics. Sitting next to him, Salvadoran Army Colonel Luis Viera, partner nation deputy commandant at WHINSEC, discussed the importance of his role and of WHINSEC…
Air Force General Braulio Piris Rojas, commander of the Paraguayan Armed Forces, spoke with Diálogo during the Fuerzas Comando 2017 military competition, which was held in Paraguay for its 13th edition. Each year, Special Operations Command South, a component of U.S. Southern Command, holds a military skills competition in which the special operations commandos of armies from across the Americas…
