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Maintaining and guaranteeing public order at the national level is the primary objective of John Dornheim Castillo, director general of the Panamanian National Police. To achieve this, he works toward eradicating criminal organizations that engage in narcotrafficking, money laundering, illicit arms and human trafficking, while also promoting campaigns for citizen integration with a culture of peaceful coexistence among the entire…
Panama’s security agencies have joined forces under a single operational center that fights crime in a united way and strengthens the regional fight against international criminal organizations. This is Panama’s Regional Center for Aeronaval Operations (CROAN), which, since its February 2021 inception, has fought against narcotrafficking by sea and air; countered illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and supported search…
Juan Manuel Pino serves as Panama’s minister of Public Security since February 5, 2020. Since then, he has been committed to focusing his country’s security agencies on teamwork as one of the fundamental aspects to combat criminal organizations, providing border security by land, sea, and air; confronting illegal migration; eradicating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and protecting citizens, among…
The Darién jungle “is not a migratory route,” warns Samira Gozaine, director of Panama’s National Migration Service (SNM). As such, raising awareness about the reality of migrants who cross the dangerous jungle between Colombia and Panama, exposing themselves to transnational drug and human trafficking networks, robbery, rape, and other crimes, is a priority. Diálogo spoke with Director Gozaine about the…
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is hosting the 38th iteration of Caribbean-focused exercise Tradewinds 2023 (TW23), July 15-28. Twenty one countries and more than 1,500 service members are participating in TW23, training in the ground, air, and sea in various locations across Guyana, united under common values and to strengthen partnership for regional stability. Tradewinds is a U.S. Southern Command-…
The Colombian Navy hosted UNITAS LXIV, the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise, in Cartagena, July 11-21, 2023. Twenty-six warships, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing and helicopters) and some 7,000 participants from 20 partner nations were present to conduct joint maritime training operations to enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability. The Colombian Navy is also celebrating a historic milestone: its…
The Chilean Navy and its ocean patrol vessel OPV-82 Toro participated in international exercise UNITAS LXIV, held in Cartagena, Colombia July 11-21. The U.S. Southern Command-led exercise brought together 20 countries from four continents, some 4,500 members of the armed forces, with 23 warships, three submarines, and 29 aircraft. UNITAS activities included training such as fast rope descents by Special…
Two combat units and a total of 570 Peruvian sailors are representing the Peruvian Navy during the 64th edition of UNITAS, in Cartagena, Colombia, July 11-23, 2023. Peruvian Navy Captain Christian Ponce, commander of the B.A.P. Pisco, spoke with Diálogo about his country’s participation in UNITAS. Diálogo: How important it is for the Peruvian Navy to participate in UNITAS LXIV…
Brigadier Omar Khan is the 12th chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). With more than 30 years of professional military career, serving in various fields across the organization, including as director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency and as an officer within the infantry, training, intelligence, and maritime units, Brig. Khan has the command and staff experience and…
Nearly 1,700 participants from Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Panama, and the United Kingdom came together for the combined military interoperability and humanitarian assistance exercise Resolute Sentinel 2023 (RS23), from June through July, hosted by Peru. The participants’ focus is to achieve a joint and combined doctrine and interoperability in combat operations and in emergencies arising from natural disasters,…
Peru is hosting international military exercise Resolute Sentinel 2023 (RS23) for the first time. RS23, which runs from June to July, is a U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) exercise led by U.S. Air Forces Southern/12th Air Force. RS23 provides joint training and enhances the readiness of U.S. and partner nations’ civil engineers, medical professionals, and support personnel through humanitarian assistance activities.…
The Bahamas offers a paradise for tourists with its white sandy shores, blue waters, fishing, and scuba diving among many activities, but it is also a transnational criminal organizations’ maritime haven for drugs and human trafficking, illegal fishing, and other related crimes. To counter those security threats, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) partners with local and regional agencies banking…
