ALLIANCES | RUSI Latin American Security Conference 2026

The security environment in Latin America is rapidly evolving, shaped by the interaction between transnational organized crime, climate-related pressures, technological disruption, and the renewed return of great power competition. At a time when global security cooperation is being tested, the United Kingdom and its Latin American partners face a decisive opportunity to rethink their strategic engagement.

The Fourth Latin American Security Conference held on January 29, brought together senior public policy officials and experts from academia, industry, and think tanks, including members of the AthenaLab team, to discuss the current and emerging challenges threatening to destabilize the region. The focus was on finding answers and identifying pathways to promote sustainable governance in the areas of defense and security.

The RUSI Security Program for Latin America analyzes how changes in global dynamics influence the security of the region and its alliances with the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, and the Indo-Pacific. It promotes dialogue and applicable public policy proposals to strengthen regional resilience, foster defense cooperation, and advance shared approaches toward global stability and democratic security.

The central themes of the conference were:

• Exploring the future of defense cooperation between the United Kingdom and Latin America in the context of global realignments.
• Evaluating Latin America’s response to the Venezuelan crisis and the war in Ukraine, and its implications for the global order.
• Highlighting opportunities for technological and industrial collaboration between the United Kingdom and Latin America.
• Exploring opportunities for security cooperation in the South Atlantic and Antarctica.
• Addressing the evolving threats posed by organized crime and illicit economies.
• Analyzing Brazil’s defense posture and its role in shaping regional security frameworks.

Source: RUSI