CENTSEC: Strength Through Alliance for the Security of the Hemisphere

The Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC), a U.S. Southern Command- (SOUTHCOM) sponsored event co-hosted by Panama, brought together defense and security leaders of the region, April 8-10, 2025, to address shared challenges and threats in Central America. This year’s conference, led by Panama’s Minister of Public Security Frank Ábrego and U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, SOUTHCOM commander; with remarks from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, focused on regional defense through joint operations and cybersecurity. (Photo: Luis Villegas/Diálogo)

« ‹ of 10 › »

Special Report

Ecuador at the Crossroads of Transnational Crime: Violence, Criminal Reconfiguration, and Regional Challenges – PART II

For decades, Ecuador was perceived as an exception in a region plagued by drug trafficking, armed violence, and criminal capture of the state. While neighboring countries faced open wars between cartels and state forces, Ecuador seemed to remain on the sidelines of these dynamics. That image began to slowly crack and finally collapsed in January 2024, when President Daniel Noboa declared an internal armed conflict [ … ]

Read This Article