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Arms Transfers

March 30, 2024 — 0

Arms Transfers in the Americas: Some Links from the Past Month

Submarines in Brazil. U.S. deliveries to Ecuador. European aid to Bolivia. Boycotts of Israeli weapons. All this and other updates about transfers of weapons and security equipment to the Americas.

Brazil

Visiting Brazil, French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted binational cooperation on submarines, which began in 2008. Brazil has used French technical assistance to build three of four planned diesel attack subs. While Brazil is cooperating with France’s Naval Group corporation on a Brazilian-built nuclear submarine, France is reluctant to transfer the most advanced technologies.

“France Will Help Brazil Develop Nuclear-Powered Submarines, Macron Says” (Agence France Presse, France24 (France), March 27, 2024).
“French, Brazilian Presidents Celebrate Launch of Defense Submarine” (Voice of America, March 27, 2024).

Ecuador

The U.S. government delivered to Ecuador a C-130H cargo aircraft and a mobile police barracks. The latter is a series of shipping containers converted into sleeping areas, food service, and other facilities for police operating along Ecuador’s border with Colombia. According to U.S. Ambassador Michael Fitzpatrick, the cargo plane, built in 1974 and part of Afghanistan’s Air Force between 1988 and 2021, is valued at $12 million.

At the aircraft handover event, Amb. Fitzpatrick also “highlighted an investment of US$10 million to rehabilitate the FAE’s fleet of Super Tucanos [Brazilian-made attack aircraft] and the delivery of night vision tools and weapons for the Ecuadorian military,” according to the Ecuadorian daily Primicias.

““Existe Narcoterrorismo en las Instituciones y Entre Funcionarios Publicos”, Dice Noboa” (Primicias (Ecuador), March 25, 2024).

Faced with a possible Russian embargo on Ecuadorian bananas, the government in Quito abandoned a plan to send used “junk” Russian-made equipment to the United States in exchange for a shipment of U.S.-made items. The plan apparently had been to hand over Ecuador’s Russian-made equipment to the government of Ukraine.

Julieta Pelcastre, “Russia’s ‘Junk’ Military Equipment” (Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), March 11, 2024).
“Daniel Noboa Confirma Que Ecuador No Entregara Armamento Militar Ruso a Ee. Uu.” (El Universo (Ecuador), February 22, 2024).
““Hemos Pasado un Momento un Poco Critico”, Dice el Embajador Ruso, Vladimir Sprinchan” (Primicias (Ecuador), February 21, 2024).
“Ecuador No Transferira Armas Rusas a los Estados Unidos” (Defensa.com, February 20, 2024).
“Esto Dice el Acuerdo Entre Ecuador y Rusia, Firmado en 2008, Sobre la Entrega de Armamento Militar” (El Universo (Ecuador), February 19, 2024).
“Ecuador No Enviara Material Belico a Ningun Pais Que Este en Conflicto Armado” (El Universo (Ecuador), February 19, 2024).

Bolivia

Bolivia’s minister of government announced that the European Union (EU) had provided 20 million Bolivianos’ (about US$2.9 million) worth of “weapons, equipment, clothing, and reconditioned aircraft” to the Bolivian police force’s Special Force for the Fight against Drug Trafficking (FELCN). An EU communiqué sought to clarify, however, that its counter-drug aid to Bolivia “includes or can be used for the purchase of armaments.” The Ministry of Government, in response, specified that the aid included “night vision devices and portable equipment for the identification of controlled substances.”

Guider Arancibia Guillen, Mauricio Quiroz Teran, “Del Castillo Entrega Armas para la Lucha Antidroga y se Genera Impasse Con la Ue” (El Deber (Bolivia), March 22, 2024).

Chile

Chile’s national police force (Carabineros) took delivery of four Hunter TR-12 armored vehicles built in Colombia by Armor International.

Carlos Carrasco, “Los Cuatro Nuevos Carros Blindados de Carabineros” (La Tercera (Chile), March 19, 2024).

In protest of Israel’s human rights abuses in Gaza, Chile’s government banned Israeli companies from its annual International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE), one of Latin America’s largest air shows.

Gabriela Briones, “¿Cuanto Pesa en las Fuerzas Armadas de Chile la Relacion Militar Con Israel?” (La Tercera (Chile), March 15, 2024).
Alonso Aranda, “Exclusion de Israel de la Fidae: Toha Afirma Que Fue una Decision “Dolorosa” y Que Entienden Que “Tiene Muchas Consecuencias”” (La Tercera (Chile), March 6, 2024).

Colombia

For the same reason, Colombia’s government has suspended all military trade with Israel. Major Israeli defense items in Colombia’s arsenal include the Atmos artillery system, the Barax air defense system, about 300,000 Galil rifles, and some aging Kfir fighter jets.

Maria Isabel Rueda, “¿Que Significa para Colombia Suspender el Comercio de Material Militar Con Israel?” (El Tiempo (Colombia), March 11, 2024).
Armando Borrero, “Motivaciones Inversas: El Caso de las Armas de Israel en Colombia” (Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Razon Publica (Colombia), March 8, 2024).
“Petro: Colombia No Longer Buying Guns From “Genocidal” Israel” (MercoPress, March 1, 2024).

Colombia is discussing with the United States a possible purchase of F-16 fighter planes, which cost roughly US$160 million apiece, to replace the Kfirs.

“¿de Kfir a F-16? Esta Es la Propuesta para Modernizar la Flota de Aviones de Colombia” (Revista Cambio (Colombia), March 6, 2024).

Colombia is also discussing with the United States a possible purchase of more UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. That helicopter model was a central item in the United States’ “Plan Colombia” arms transfers of the 2000s; combining grants and purchases, Colombia has the world’s sixth-largest Black Hawk fleet.

Cesar Fernando Cepeda Bernal, “Colombia Negotiates With the U.S. the Acquisition of New Uh-60 Black Hawk Helicopters for Its Armed Forces” (Zona Militar, March 8, 2024).

Nicaragua

The U.S. State Department blocked the export of all U.S.-originated defense articles to Nicaragua’s authoritarian government. While the United States has not been transferring such articles to Nicaragua, the measure seeks to stop third countries from transferring to Nicaragua any items with U.S.-made components.

“Restriction on Arms Imports: A Message From the U.S. to the Nicaraguan Army” (Confidencial (Nicaragua), March 19, 2024).
“Paises del Alba Rechazan Sancion Sobre Armas Impuestas por ee.uu. A Ortega” (Onda Local (Nicaragua), March 18, 2024).
Felix Maradiaga, “Estados Unidos Envia un Mensaje al Ejercito de Nicaragua” (Confidencial (Nicaragua), March 15, 2024).
“Restricciones de Armas Son “Irrelevantes”, a Menos Que Sea un Aviso de Proximas Sanciones al Ejercito, Explican Analistas” (Nicaragua Investiga, March 14, 2024).

Venezuela

Venezuela obtained a “Hunter SHH100” anti-drone system from Skyfend, a Chinese company.

“The Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela Incorporate New Anti-Drone Systems From China” (Zona Militar, March 16, 2024).

Some of the F-16 jets that Venezuela purchased from the United States in the years before Hugo Chávez’s 1998 election are still operable. Three of them took part in an early March military exercise.

Douglas Bravo, “La Aviacion Militar Bolivariana de Venezuela Desplego Sus Cazas F-16 en Matasiete 01-24” (Defensa.com, March 8, 2024).

Uruguay

“Uruguay is negotiating the purchase of weapons, radars, and military trucks with the United States,” noted Southern Command’s Diálogo website.

Julieta Pelcastre, “Russia’s ‘Junk’ Military Equipment” (Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), March 11, 2024).

Honduras

In late 2023, Honduras purchased 10 South African-built “Black Mamba” armored police vehicles and has already begun using the two that have been delivered on operations in urban neighborhoods.

Daniel Giron, “¿Son Necesarias los Black Mamba en Operativos de Rutina?” (Criterio (Honduras), February 28, 2024).

Peru

Peru has almost completed a $25.5 million overhaul of four Russian-made Mi-8MTV-1 Hip H transport helicopters belonging to its army. Defensa.com reported that Peru has renovated more than 15 Russian helicopters in its arsenal in the past 5 years; many of them sustained bullet impacts on operations in the VRAEM region, where Shining Path remnants continue to operate.

Much of Peru’s army equipment is Russian-made, the result of a changeover made when Peru was ruled by a left-leaning military dictatorship that came to power in 1968.

Alejo Marchessini, “Ministerio de Defensa de Perú supervisa la puesta a punto de los Mi-8MTV-1 de la Aviación del Ejército” (Defensa.com, February 26, 2024).

See also:

March 28, 2024 — 0

U.S. Military and Police Equipment Arriving in Ecuador

This week the U.S. government handed over to Ecuador a mobile police barracks and a C-130 cargo plane.

Ecuador took delivery of two big U.S. military and police aid items this week. The U.S. government’s security assistance program has been ramping up following a January 9 outbreak of organized-crime violence around the country and subsequent state-of-emergency declaration from President Daniel Noboa.

A “mobile police barracks” for use along Ecuador’s side of its border with Colombia, consisting of eight converted storage containers, a sewage tank, and an electric power plant. “An estimated 80 police officers trained for border control tasks, from the Unit for the Fight against Organized Crime (ULCO), will patrol nearby roads and border zones, then spend nights and eat in the containers, which have a kitchen, dining room, dormitories, and meeting areas, among other spaces,” reported El Universo.
A C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft that the U.S. government had originally scheduled for a 2026 handover to Ecuador, but reprioritized in light of the security situation. The plane, valued at over $12 million, was built in 1974. In 1988, the U.S. government gave it to Afghanistan’s Air Force; following the 2021 Taliban takeover in Kabul, the U.S. Air Force reconditioned and modernized the plane.

Ecuador is now almost certainly the number-two recipient of U.S. security assistance in the Western Hemisphere after Colombia, surpassing Mexico.

See also:

From CRS: U.S. Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean FY1946-FY2021

February 19, 2024 — 0

Arms Transfers in the Americas: Some Links from the Past Month

The U.S. government is donating a long list of military and police items to Ecuador, perhaps including a controversial exchange of Russian equipment. Also: news of arms transfers to Guatemala, Guyana, Peru, and Uruguay.

Ecuador has been in a diplomatic dispute with Russia over a reported deal to send used Russian-made military equipment to the United States, in exchange for a U.S. government transfer of U.S. equipment worth $200 million. U.S. State Department official Kevin Sullivan told an Ecuadorian television interviewer that the used Russian equipment was to be transferred to Ukraine. The government of President Daniel Noboa may be backing down from the deal after Russia suspended five Ecuadorian banana exporting companies.

Vanessa Silva Cruz, “Ecuador No Ha Querido Reconocer el Desencuentro Diplomatico Que Provoco Con Rusia por Armamento Militar” (El Universo (Ecuador), February 17, 2024).
“Ecuador Habria Desistido de Entregar Armamento Ruso a Ee. Uu., Segun Medio de Rusia” (El Universo (Ecuador), February 16, 2024).
“El Acuerdo Firmado Con Rusia en 2008 Impide la Transferencia de ‘Productos Militares’” (Primicias (Ecuador), February 9, 2024).
“Russia Stops Ecuador Banana Imports After Us Arms Deal” (Agence France Presse, Barron’s, February 6, 2024).
Gabriela Molina, “Diplomatic Tensions Between Ecuador and Russia Over Military Equipment Threaten Banana Exports” (Associated Press, Associated Press, February 4, 2024).

Beyond the possible Russian equipment exchange, U.S. aid to Ecuador announced in the past month includes:

construction of a new Ecuadorian Coast Guard Academy,
renovation of a canine veterinary clinic,
a renovated office for the corruption prosecution unit,
eight mobile border units to support an elite border task force
a joint National Police-Coast Guard operational unit in Guayaquil
digital forensics support to identify, map, and target criminal networks
a team to train 175 Ecuador migration officers on the use of biometrics collection
training of 35 members from the Ecuadorian Presidential and Vice-Presidential protective details
an increase in FBI advisors in-country
a C-130H military plane to be delivered by the end of March
more than 20,000 bullet proof vests
more than $1 million worth of critical security and emergency response equipment
$13 million in equipment to protect the Ecuadorian Ministry of Defense computer networks
$2.4 million in additional vehicles and security equipment for Ecuador’s police
6 Navistar Defense 7000-MV trucks

“Statement From NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on U.S. Unwavering Support for Ecuador” (The White House, February 9, 2024).
Carlos Vanegas, “Ecuador Recibe de Estados Unidos Equipos para Reforzar las Capacidades Operativas de Sus Fuerzas Armadas” (Defensa.com, February 2, 2024).

Peru is completing an approximately US$50 million overhaul of eight Russian-built helicopters used by its army and air force and first acquired in the 1990s.

Alejo Marchessini, “Recta Final en la Puesta a Punto de los Helicopteros Rusos del Ejercito y la Fuerza Aerea del Peru” (Defensa.com, February 13, 2024).

Peru‘s $27 million purchase of 10,000 Israeli Arad 7 rifles has come under scrutiny from the government’s comptroller because “a guarantee of only two years has been given, when the technical requirements demand 12 years,” La República reported.

Ángel Páez, “Ejercito Compro 10.000 Fusiles a Israel Sin Garantia de 12 Anos” (La Republica (Peru), January 16, 2024).

In the waning days of Alejandro Giammattei’s administration in Guatemala, on December 12, 2023, the country’s air force received a Bell 429 GlobalRanger helicopter purchased from the U.S. government. Guatemala and the United States are discussing the purchase of two Bell 407 helicopters.

“Helicopter Delivery Bolsters Guatemala’s Recovery and Response Capabilities” (U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), January 16, 2024).

The U.S. government is donating 14 Osprea Mamba MK7 vehicles to Uruguay, which is also purchasing some additional vehicles. The announcement follows a visit to the country from U.S. Southern Command Commander Gen. Laura Richardson.

Javier Bonilla, “El Ejercito Uruguayo Confirma la Llegada de Blindados M-Atv, Osprea Mamba mk7 y la Posible Compra de Camiones mk23” (Defensa.com, February 12, 2024).

U.S. officials said that transfers to Guyana, which faces a territorial claim from Venezuela, will include aircraft, helicopters, a fleet of drones, and radar technology.

“EEUU Aumentara Ayuda Militar a Guyana para Que Pueda Defender su Integridad Territorial” (Tal Cual (Venezuela), February 5, 2024).

See also:

Arms Transfers in the Americas: Some Links from the Past Month

January 15, 2024 — 0

Arms Transfers in the Americas: Some Links from the Past Month

Ecuador to trade Russian equipment for U.S. equipment; Venezuela's Iran-made boats and drones; Colombia fighter jets; crowd-control equipment in Peru and Bolivia

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa said that his government will turn over used Russian and Ukrainian military equipment to the United States, and receive about $200 million in U.S. equipment in return.

Carlos Vanegas, “Ecuador Entregara Material Militar Ruso a Estados Unidos Valorado en 200 Millones de Dolares a Cambio de Equipamiento Moderno” (Defensa.com, January 12, 2024).

Video from recent military exercises showed that Venezuela possesses Iranian-made Zolfaghar naval patrol boats. “Aside from the Zolfaghar boats, Iran has also provided Venezuela with drones, rockets and missiles,” France24 noted in a report listing some of the models.

Alijani Ershad, “Venezuela’s Zolfaghar Boats Are Just the Latest Military Equipment Provided by Iran” (The Observers, France24 (France), January 10, 2024).

“We did not manage to finalize a deal, neither with the French nor with the Swedes” by the end of the year to purchase fighter jets to replace an aging fleet of 12 Israeli-made Kfir planes, said Colombia‘s defense minister, Iván Velásquez. In a long-planned purchase that will total well into the billions of dollars, Colombia is choosing between Sweden’s Saab Gripen, France’s Dassault Rafale, and the United States’ Lockheed Martin F-16.

Javier Patino C., “Esto Cuestan los Aviones Ofrecidos a Colombia para Reemplazar a los Kfir” (Revista Cambio (Colombia), December 23, 2023).

Peru‘s armed forces placed a $664,000 order for 540 South Korean-made anti-riot grenade launchers. “The acquisition seeks to provide the Armed Forces with anti-riot material for the National Police Support Operations in case of possible demonstrations in Lima and nationwide,” reported Defensa.com.

Alejo Marchessini, “Lanzagranadas Antimotines para el Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas del Peru” (Defensa.com, December 19, 2023).

The right-leaning Bolivian daily El Deber reported that Bolivia‘s left-of-center government has purchased over $31 million in crowd control or anti-riot equipment for its police in the past year. The Interior Ministry stated, “The equipment delivered should not be understood as a synonym of confrontation, much less as a preparation for a ‘war’, this type of assertions are not consistent with reality.”

“Este Lunes se Publico una Nota Periodistica Titulada Gobierno Invirtio Sus 31.5 Millones en Material Antimotin para un Ano Que se Vislumbra Conflictivo” (El Deber (Bolivia), January 2, 2024).

See also:

December 20, 2022 — 0

“The highest degree of irresponsibility”

“Buying planes in the midst of a crisis like the one we’re experiencing is the highest degree of irresponsibility for a leader,” candidate Gustavo Petro said in 2021.

Now, in a reversal, President Petro will purchase 16 fighter jets, choosing between the U.S. F-16, Sweden’s Gripen, and France’s Rafale.

Each will cost dozens of millions of dollars. Colombia has few threat scenarios for which fighter jets would be of use.

What will get cut to pay for this? Peace accord implementation?

July 24, 2022 — 0

Quite a spending spree…

…by the populist president of El Salvador, which is one of the world’s governments most likely to default on its debt by early next year.

September 1, 2021 — 0

Arms transfers in Latin America: some notable links from the past quarter

August 31, 2021

El Salvador

Julio Montes, “Helicopteros Md 530f y Blindados para las Fuerzas Armadas de el Salvador” (Defensa.com, August 31, 2021).

El Comando Sumpul está a cargo de vigilar 195 puestos de Paso Fronterizo No Habilitado (PFNH) situados a lo largo del país

August 26, 2021

Venezuela

“Rusia Promete Concluir Fabrica de Fusiles Kalashnikov Ak-103 y Municiones 7,62×39 en Venezuela” (Asociación Civil Control Ciudadano (Venezuela), August 26, 2021).

EN 2006 el gobierno venezolano, a través de la Compañía Anónima Venezolana de Industrias Militares (CAVIM), suscribió con Rosoboronexport los contratos para la construcción de una planta de fabricación de armamento

August 25, 2021

El Salvador

Lorena Baires, “El Salvador Cracks Down on Narcotrafficking With Southcom’s Help” (Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), August 25, 2021).

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) delivered a Metal Shark Defiant 85 coastal patrol vessel to the Salvadoran Navy (FNES, in Spanish) at La Unión Naval Base, on July 22, 2021

Venezuela

Douglas Bravo Colmenares, “A Punto de Concluir los Trabajos de la Planta Que Producira el Fusil Ak-103 en Venezuela” (Defensa.com (Spain), August 25, 2021).

Se vienen ejecutando desde 2006 en las instalaciones de la Compañía Anónima Venezolana de Industrias Militares

July 28, 2021

El Salvador, Honduras

Julio Montes, “Estados Unidos Entrega Navios Guardacostas a la Fuerza Naval de Honduras y a la de el Salvador” (Defensa.com (Spain), July 28, 2021).

Tanto Honduras como El Salvador necesitarían al menos uno, y óptimamente, dos Desafiante 85 adicionales y, en el caso de El Salvador, uno o dos más modelos FCS-5009/Spa-5009 para mejorar sus patrullas

July 22, 2021

El Salvador

Julio Montes, “El Ejercito Salvadoreno Sera el Mas Grande de Centro America” (Defensa.com (Spain), July 22, 2021).

A esta fase se le denomina “Incursión” y pretende duplicar la capacidad humana, alcanzando los 40.000 efectivos militares en los próximos cinco años

June 21, 2021

Venezuela

“Iranian Warships Seem Bound for Venezuela” (The Economist (Uk), June 21, 2021).

Warships have “practically absolute sovereign immunity”, says Cornell Overfield of cna, a think-tank, meaning that the United States cannot lawfully seize or attack them

June 18, 2021

Western Hemisphere Regional

Samuel Bendett, “The Dangers of Potential Russian Counter-Uav Technology Exports to Latin America” (Center for a New American Security (CNAS), Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), June 18, 2021).

Many Russian C-UAS systems are small and portable, and are relatively inexpensive, enabling their potential export to LATAM

June 3, 2021

Venezuela

“Eeuu Monitorea Buque de Guerra de Iran Que Llevaria Armamento a Venezuela” (Tal Cual (Venezuela), June 3, 2021).

El Instituto Naval de EEUU informó este martes 2 de junio que un barco de guerra perteneciente a la Armada de Irán salió de su puerto a finales de abril con siete de barcos de alta velocidad con armamento antiaéreo

June 2, 2021

Western Hemisphere Regional

“El Mercado Futuro de Helicopteros Militares en America Latina” (Defensa.com (Spain), June 2, 2021).

Analizamos en estas páginas los próximos programas de aeronaves de ala rotatoria en esta variopinta región

Colombia

“Los Millonarios Contratos de Armas “No Letales” para la Policia y el Esmad” (Cuestion Publica (Colombia), June 2, 2021).

Entre 2017 y 2021, 20 entidades estatales suscribieron al menos 30 contratos y dos órdenes de compra por $45.684.261.058 para adquirir armas de letalidad reducida y elementos de dispersión de multitudes

December 1, 2018 — 0

Arms transfers and arms trafficking in Latin America: Links from the past month

Brazil, Uruguay

Andrea Barretto, “Brazil Donates 25 Armored Tanks to the Uruguayan Army” (Revista Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), November 13, 2018).

The M-41C vehicles that the Brazilian Army used through 2009 will be part of the Uruguayan Army’s 13th Armored Infantry Battalion Brazil purchased the M-41 armored vehicles from the United States in the 1960s. EB used the vehicles equipped with cannons for almost five decades for training purposes

Colombia, Western Hemisphere Regional

“U.S. Military Targets Growing Russian and Chinese Influence in Latin America” (LARA SELIGMAN, Foreign Policy, November 20, 2018).

Goldfein said Colombia and other Latin American countries risked being locked out of U.S. and allied operations if they stopped buying military hardware from the United States and turned to other markets instead

Honduras

“Esta Semana Llega Primer Sistema de Drones a las Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras” (El Heraldo (Honduras), November 13, 2018).

Honduras encargó a Israel el Skylark 3, que es un sistema táctico mini UAV, optimizado para la operación desmontada o basada en el vehículo

October 6, 2018 — 0

Arms transfers in Latin America: Links from the past month

Western Hemisphere Regional

Aaron Mehta, “State Official Predicts Us Weapon Sales Increase in 2019” (DefenseNews, September 12, 2018).

The U.S. has signed $46.9 billion in weapons sales to foreign partners and allies, smashing past the $41.9 billion figure from all of fiscal 2017

Argentina

“Former Argentine President Acquitted of Arms Smuggling” (Associated Press, The New York Times, October 4, 2018).

“The same judicial branch that processed the case for 22 years without a firm sentence, now declares Menem innocent because too much time has passed”

Colombia

Luis Jaime Acosta, “Colombia Will Delay Purchase of Anti-Aircraft Missile System: Minister” (Reuters **, October 3, 2018).

“We are not going to invest 1.1 trillion pesos ($367.4 million) in anti-aircraft defense for the time being, because among other reasons, we do not have the budget,” Defense Minister Guillermo Botero said

“Gobierno No Tiene Plata para Invertir en Defensa Antiaerea” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 2, 2018).

Botero admitió este martes que aunque “hay otras razones” para descartar la compra de nuevo armamento, la falta de plata es “suficiente”

Luis Jaime Acosta, “Colombia May Purchase New Anti-Aircraft Missiles: Sources” (Reuters **, September 28, 2018).

Three armed forces sources told Reuters that manufacturers from the United States, France and Israel were in the running to provide the system

Mexico

Paris Martínez, “Alemania Enjuicia a Fabrica de Armas Usadas Contra Normalistas; En Mexico, el Ejercito Destruye Evidencias” (Animal Politico (Mexico), October 5, 2018).

El caso de los normalistas de Ayotzinapa es pieza clave en el juicio que se sigue en Alemania contra Heckler & Koch

Lisa Marie Pane, “As Immigrants Flow Across the U.S. Border, American Guns Go South” (Associated Press, The Chicago Tribune, October 1, 2018).

Once in Mexico, the weapons end up in the hands of drug cartels or get shipped to gangs in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador

Nicaragua

Elízabeth Romero, “Regimen Busca Aumentar la Capacidad de Armamento de la Policia Orteguista” (La Prensa (Nicaragua), September 27, 2018).

Jaentschke alega en la entrevista a EFE que “nuestra policía, que era una policía muy tranquila y que caminaba en las calles sin mucho armamento, tiene que ajustarse a los embates del crimen organizado que se han mostrado en estas protestas”

September 14, 2018 — 0

Arms transfers in Latin America: Links from the past month

Had I not been traveling last week, I’d have published links from the previous month about arms transfers and arms trafficking in Latin America. As it turns out, though, I only had these two in the database:

Colombia

Julieta Pelcastre, “U.S. Donates Interception Vessels to Colombian Navy” (Revista Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), August 28, 2018).

The vessels will support maritime patrol efforts in the Pacific and Caribbean to counter transnational crime. Colombia expects two more boats by the end of 2018

Mexico

Sandra Dibble, “As Drug-Fueled Homicides Break Records, Tijuana Authorities Push to Reform Mexico’s Firearms Law” (The San Diego Union-Tribune, August 15, 2018).

As drug-fueled violence reaches unprecedented levels in Tijuana, the city’s top safety official calls for automatic detention of anyone caught with weapons—drawing criticism from advocates of Mexico’s new criminal justice system

April 11, 2017 — 0

Links from the past month about: arms transfers in Latin America

Oswaldo Rivas / Reuters photo in The Washington Post. Caption: “A soldier washes a Russian T-55 tank during a military parade commemorating the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Nicaraguan army at Juan Pablo II Square in Managua in 2014.”

Brazil

Tom O’Connor, “Russian Missile Defense Systems Are Coming to Brazil” (Newsweek, April 5, 2017).

“Russia has delivered a batch of shoulder-fired Igla-S air defense missile systems to Brazil and has planned on sending Panstir–1 air defense and artillery systems.”

Andrea Barretto, “Brazilian Army Upgrades Armored Vehicle Fleet” (Revista Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), April 4, 2017).

Brazil’s army has a 25-year plan to buy 1,580 armored combat vehicles, which it employs whenever it is called to assist in the re-taking or “pacifying” of a favela. It began with a $2 billion contract with Iveco, a domestic defense contractor.

Antônio Werneck, “Policia Civil Quer Interromper Fluxo de Armas de Guerra para o Trafico Do Rio” (O Globo (Brazil), March 21, 2017).

After seizing a record 371 assault weapons and rifles in 2016, and 2,615 over the past 10 years, Rio de Janeiro’s police have established a Specialized Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives unit. It will investigate the arms trafficking networks that are putting so many guns into organized crime’s hands.

Colombia

Ricardo Monsalve Gaviria, “De las Armas de las Farc No se Conocera su Origen” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), March 21, 2017).

As the FARC guerrillas’ membership concentrates in disarmament zones around the country, the peace accord does not require the UN mission to record the guerrillas’ weapons’ serial numbers before it destroys them. This will make their origins impossible to trace, complicating any future investigation into global arms-trafficking networks. An infographic in this article shows the nations of origin of the weapons turned in by pro-government paramilitary groups 10 years ago: most were made in the United States, Russia, Bulgaria, or North Korea.

Nicaragua

Joshua Partlow, “The Soviet Union Fought the Cold War in Nicaragua. Now Putin’s Russia Is Back.” (The Washington Post, April 10, 2017).

While mostly about Russian intelligence presence in Nicaragua, this piece does discuss Russia’s donations of T–72 tanks to Daniel Ortega’s regime in Nicaragua.

March 13, 2017 — 0

5 links from the past month about: arms transfers in Latin America

A Stryker Combat Vehicle like the ones Peru may or may not be buying from the U.S. government, depending on whom you ask. (Source: Wikipedia)

March 10, 2017

Colombia, Honduras

“Honduras: Buque de la Naval Ya se Construye en Astillero en Aguas de Colombia” (El Heraldo (Honduras), March 10, 2017).

COTECMAR, an entity of Colombia’s Defense Ministry that builds naval vessels, is building one that Honduras is to buy for US$13 million.

March 8, 2017

Peru

“Mindef No Adquirira por el Momento Vehiculos Militares” (El Comercio (Peru), March 8, 2017).

Peru’s government is denying that President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, during a recent visit to Washington, asked Donald Trump to authorize a purchase of Stryker combat vehicles. I find this denial strange, because the U.S. Defense Department already announced a US$668 million sale of Strykers to Peru on December 5.

March 3, 2017

Mexico

Sarah Kinosian, Eugenio Weigend, “We’re Sending Guns, Crime to Mexico” (Washington Office on Latin America, Center for American Progress, The Los Angeles Times, March 3, 2017).

Featuring Sarah Kinosian from WOLA’s own Defense Oversight Program! “Many factors have contributed to violence in Mexico. The river of iron from the United States, however, plays a key role in the country’s high death toll.”

March 2, 2017

Western Hemisphere Regional

Colby Goodman, “Commerce Department Boosts Arms Sales Deliveries to Record High” (LobeLog, March 2, 2017).

Moving some categories of arms sales from State Department to Commerce Department jurisdiction can have big repercussions. Like U.S. companies suddenly being able to export $458,654 worth of military electronics to Venezuela (!) in 2015.

February 22, 2017

Mexico

“A Bread Basket for Weapons: Trump Ally Selling Weapons to Mexico” (American Friends Service Committee, February 22, 2017).

John Lindsay-Poland and Mexican colleagues investigate a huge sale from a U.S. gunmaker that gave US$100,000 to the Trump campaign. “In March 2015, SEDENA made an agreement, valid for four years, with the U.S. company Sig Sauer to acquire up to $265 million in pistols, assault rifles, and other firearms.”