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# Admiral Says U.S. Aims to Expand Competitive Space in Latin America

By David VergunDOD News

Two key concepts of the National Defense Strategy are partnerships and expanding the competitive space in all domains — and that's what the Defense Department is doing in the U.S. Southern Command and globally, said Navy Adm. Craig S. Faller.

Faller, commander of Southcom, said yesterday that those efforts include training and education with partner nations, security cooperation, fighting transnational criminal organizations, stopping illegal fishing, exercises, personnel exchanges, planning and intelligence sharing and having a military presence there to assist and reassure.

                Exercise UNITAS LXI                            An Ecuadorian navy ship participates in Exercise UNITAS LXI off the Ecuador coast, Nov. 4, 2020.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Navy Seaman Isaiah LibunaVIRIN: 201104-N-N3674-008

It's in everyone's interest in this hemisphere to have partners with strong military capabilities, Faller told virtual attendees of the Surface Navy Association Annual National Symposium.

He said one example is Colombia, which has a cutting-edge military force. Colombians are also producing quality vessels in their shipyards and selling them to other nations in South America and the Far East. Brazil, as well, has invested in a capable navy.

Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and other nations, including NATO allies, have taken part in the annual UNITAS exercises, he said.

Ecuador led UNITAS in 2020, despite COVID-19 and budget challenges that  had caused the country to be absent from the global scene for over a decade.

"Our ability to target threats doubled," Faller said. "And our partner capacity went from about 48% to 60%. So, we've got to take care of today's threats to expand the competitive space."

                Plane Formation                            A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress flies in formation with Colombian Air Force Kfirs during the exercise Brother's Shield over Colombian airspace during Exercise UNITAS LXI, Nov. 8, 2020.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Colombian Air Force courtesy photoVIRIN: 201108-O-XX000-3071C                Naval Formations                            The USAV Chickahominy, USCGC Legare, USNS Burlington and USS Gabrielle Giffords conduct naval formations during a training exercise for UNITAS LXI off the coast of Ecuador, Nov. 10, 2020.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Allen Michael AmaniVIRIN: 201110-N-YM720-1165

Humanitarian missions are also an important aspect of strengthening partnerships, he said.

In November, a Category 4 and 5 hurricane slammed into Central America, and the DOD along with the Coast Guard assisted in saving more than 1,000 lives.

Additionally, the two Navy hospital ships routinely make port calls in Southcom, he added. They're treating many patients and spreading goodwill.

Faller said partnerships are important for everyone in this hemisphere.

China remains a significant threat to this hemisphere and is seeking deep-water ports in El Salvador, Jamaica and elsewhere, and the Chinese are trying to exert control over the Panama Canal. They're also trying to gain access to inland waterways in Brazil and neighboring countries through tugboat and dredging contracts, he said.

Chinese fishing fleets are harvesting illegal catches in many areas of Southcom, he added.

                201107-N-YM720-2035                            PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2020) Lt. j.g. Timothy Wenholz, assigned to the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), uses a bearing circle in preparation for a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with the  Chilean Navy replenishment oiler CNS Almirante Montt (AO-52) Nov. 7, 2020. Both Gabrielle Giffords and CNS Almirante Montt are supporting UNITAS LXI, off the coast of Manta, Ecuador, the world’s longest running multi-national maritime exercise. UNITAS is the world's longest-running, annual exercise and brings together multinational forces from nine countries to include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and the US.. The exercise focuses in strengthening the existing regional partnerships and encourages establishing new relationships through the exchange of maritime mission-focused knowledge and expertise during multinational training operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Allen Michael Amani)            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Petty Officer 2nd Class Allen AmaniVIRIN: 201107-N-YM720-2035

The Chinese are also trying to sell their 5G network equipment, which is also a threat to security, he said.

Besides China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Nicaragua are trying to destabilize democracies in the area and are spreading disinformation and engaging in criminal activities, he said.

Therefore, it's in the interest of partners in this hemisphere to remain united and to work together to maintain peace and prosperity for all, he said, noting that, after Asia, Latin America is the United States' largest trading partner.

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