Presentation Transcript

1. US Southern Command Area of Responsibility

2. Overview Area of Responsibility Religion Economic Systems Political Systems US Interests
3. Area of Responsibility Geography 1/6th of the world’s surface Land mass south of Mexico, waters adjacent to Central and South America, the Caribbean Sea, portion of the Atlantic Ocean 31 countries and 15 areas of special sovereignty Majority of population lives within 100 miles of the ocean Large cities grossly overpopulated
4. Religion Roman Catholicism dominant Brought by colonialism and forced conversion beginning in 1500s Dominant religion for 90% or more of population Number actively practicing and professing faith are often different Roman Catholicism mixed with indigenous or imported religions
5. Religion Dominant religions in non-Spanish colonies (British, French, Dutch) fall in line with historic colonial influence Evangelical Christianity surging throughout area in recent decades Hindu, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism on rise due to recent political and economic changes
6. Economic Systems Long term problems due to end of colonialism Foreign debt and worldwide recessions Free trade agreements in later twentieth and early twenty-first century have provided major stimulus to economies Strong economic ties between region and United States: 23% of petroleum imports into United States are from this region; exceeding imports from Persian Gulf
7. Economic Systems Poverty 34% live in poverty; 13% in extreme poverty High economic growth = increased demand for exports = improvements in poverty around region Massive income disparity; one of most unequal regions in the world Wealthiest 20% possesses 19 times the wealth of the poorest 20%
8. Economic Systems Poverty Contributing factors to high poverty rate include: Rural underdevelopment Government failures/political instability Widespread corruption Lack of infrastructure Ethnic discrimination Impoverished citizens are easy prey for illicit traffickers, terrorist organizations, and political demagogues
9. Economic Systems Crime One of world’s most violent areas Claims more than 100,000 lives/year Murder one of 5 main causes of death in several countries 15% of region’s combined annual GDP Typically centers around drug trade More than 530 metric tons of cocaine smuggled annually into United States from South America Central America becoming new hotbed for activity as neighboring nations crack down
10. Economic Systems Crime Criminal groups take over regions where government control is absent Criminals often collude with—or are actually part of—local law enforcement Illicit trafficking costs legitimate economies more than $245 billion annually $32 billion human trafficking $10 billion illegal arms trafficking $80 billion exotic wildlife trafficking
11. Economic Systems Crime Colombia Drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping are major sources of funding for guerrilla groups and right-wing paramilitary Efforts to dismantle major operations fractured groups into smaller, autonomous organizations High crime rate comes from rapid urbanization w/out infrastructure, income inequality, culture of violence, lack of opportunity for youth, corruption
12. Political Systems History of democracy across area since end of colonialism in nineteenth century Elections fair in most countries However, citizens’ freedoms restricted in many nations Freedom in the World Survey of Latin American countries: 21 = free 9 = partly free 1 = not free
13. Political Systems Democracy is challenged by a number of issues: Economics Weak administrative capacity Anti-democratic opposition Drug trafficking Guerrilla movements Problems are causing many to lose faith in democracy and support authoritarian rule
14. US Interests Commerce and Trade Fastest growing trade market for the US Two-thirds of ships transiting Panama Canal are going to or coming from US ports, 16% of US trade 17.8% of total US foreign investment worldwide 10 of 19 US free trade agreements are with Central and South American countries
15. US Interests Commerce and Trade Total US foreign direct investment equals US direct investment in Asia, Middle East, and Africa combined Commerce Department and WTO estimate 2011 trade exceed trade w/Europe and Japan
16. US Interests National Security Conventional threats are low; non-traditional challenges threaten region Illicit trafficking, transnational terrorism, crime, gangs, potential spread of WMD are principal security challenges Influence from Iran, China, and Russia Counterdrug and Narcoterrorism 95.5% of cocaine entering United States originates in Colombia
17. US Interests Counterdrug and Narcoterrorism 60% of cocaine shipped from South America in 2009 was headed to United States As drugs flow into United States, money, arms, and technology flow back to region Counterdrug operations include detection, monitoring, tracking, and interdiction of drug runners
18. US Interests Theater Security Cooperation Asymmetic threats require shift in security efforts Coalitions and regional partnerships provide underlying conditions for success
19. Summary Area of Responsibility Religion Economic Systems Political Systems US Interests