South America

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The Security Impact of Renewed Relations Between Caracas and Washington

After years without institutional cooperation, Caracas and Washington have begun building a new security relationship. What started as a diplomatic rapprochement has expanded into increasingly visible coordination among judicial authorities, intelligence agencies, and security forces to confront some of the most significant threats facing Venezuela and the region. Within just a few months, that cooperation has already produced tangible results.…

Central America

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Honduras, Guatemala Strengthen Cross-Border Security with US Support

Recent armed incidents along the Honduras-Guatemala border have reinforced the need for closer coordination between the two countries as transnational criminal organizations increasingly exploit borders to move drugs, weapons, and other illicit goods throughout Central America. Strengthened military coordination, expanded information sharing, reinforced border surveillance, and continued cooperation with the United States aim to improve both countries’ ability to detect…

Caribbean

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China’s Solar Energy Projects Deepen Cuba’s Technological Dependence

As blackouts continue to cripple Cuba and fuel growing public discontent, China is leveraging the island’s worst energy crisis in decades to deepen its dependence on Chinese-made solar technology. By supplying photovoltaic panels, inverters, specialized equipment, and technical assistance, Beijing is establishing an increasingly important position in a sector critical to restoring Cuba’s electrical system while expanding its strategic influence…

Spotlight Interviews

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Academia

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Inside Hezbollah’s Network in Brazil

The rapid expansion of Brazil’s major criminal organizations — particularly the recently U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (Red Command) — is driving them to collaborate with actors linked to Middle Eastern terrorism, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Fueled by billions of dollars in proceeds from drug trafficking and other illicit activities, these groups increasingly rely…

Nothing Happens Until Something Moves: Designing a Multinational Movement and Transportation Manual to Enable Military Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

Hurricanes devastate Caribbean islands, earthquakes destroy infrastructure across multiple countries, and volcanoes spew lava, isolating mountain towns from the rest of the country. These disasters often exceed a nation’s capacity to rescue and care for its affected citizens. When that happens, nations typically turn to national and international civilian organizations, such as the United Nations. However, when those organizations cannot…

Special Report

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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…

Photo Galleries

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