ATHENALAB REPORT 2024

In 2024, AthenaLab celebrated its sixth year of existence, establishing itself as one of the leading civil society organizations in the fields of international relations, security, and defense. This achievement was undoubtedly the result of consistent work and, to some extent, anticipatory efforts in response to various realities that have shaped the world and the country during this tumultuous period.

In just a few years, we have witnessed a global pandemic, such as COVID-19, the outbreak of wars between states, a social uprising that deeply affected the country, and the emergence of complex phenomena such as organized crime.

When reviewing the work of AthenaLab, which has been reflected in around thirty documents and four books, for example, one can find proposals to build a security architecture, develop a robust intelligence system, enhance border security, leverage the country’s maritime status, increase Antarctic presence, strengthen ties with Pacific democracies, and identify the factors that enable various illicit economies, among others. In other words, we addressed challenges early on that have since materialized or intensified significantly.

Additionally, products such as our Annual Foreign Policy and National Security Survey have become highly anticipated and sought-after resources by both external and internal decision-makers. Foreign governments, academics, and business leaders now demand and expect the survey results.

In the academic realm, we can also highlight the interest generated by our summer and winter workshops for training young leaders in international relations, security, and defense. Over 200 alumni are part of the AthenaLab network.

One of the aspects that undoubtedly sets us apart from other research centers is our deep commitment to contrasting our knowledge with field visits. Just as AthenaLab researchers have traveled across the country from Arica to the South Pole for a national update, they have also been present in conflict theaters in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Taiwan. This provides us with a more accurate perspective on the developments occurring there, which we share with our followers.

Looking to the future, all these actions in the areas of content creation, professional training, and partnerships with other research centers aim to provide some of the necessary resources to rebuild or update a common national aspiration for a safe, prosperous, and respected country.