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Building Stronger Civil-Military Partnerships for Regional Stability

SpeakerS:

General Laura Richardson – Combatant Commander, U.S. Southern Command
Matthew Swift – Co-Founder, President & CEO, Concordia

Key takeaways & next steps:

  • Strengthening security cooperation and economic stability in the Western Hemisphere is key to addressing challenges, such as the exploitation of regional resources by transnational criminal organizations and the ongoing economic downturn in Latin America and the Caribbean following the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The role of strategic competitors, such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative, in enhancing infrastructure investment projects has spurred the need for the U.S. to provide alternatives in the region, openly competing in infrastructure tenders and promoting its investment standards.
  • Collaboration with like-minded democracies to leverage opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean is key to advancing democracy and economic development. A call to action urges seizing investment opportunities, being present in the region, and recognizing economic security as vital to national security.

“I think one of the most important themes of this conference is that it feels like the rest of the world is taking their eyes off Latin America and the Caribbean, so how do you, General Richardson, and the massive infrastructure you operate within, tackle or deal with that?”

Matthew Swift, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Concordia

“I would say that “Team U.S.” can do a lot better in terms of offering alternatives, especially getting involved in critical infrastructure projects within the region. That is why I am present here today, to take part in the call to action. We have got to compete and provide countries with other alternatives than what is currently – and has been for several years – offered.”

General Laura Richardson – Combatant Commander, U.S. Southern Command

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