July 28, 2022

Department of Defense Engagement in the Western Hemisphere

This fact sheet is released on the occasion of the XV Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA), which convened on July 25-29, 2022, in Brasilia, Brazil, hosted by the Brazilian Ministry of National Defense. CDMA is the premier hemispheric defense ministerial for strategic-level engagement with the top defense officials of the Americas, and convenes every two years. U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry established and hosted the first CDMA in 1995. U.S. Secretaries of Defense have attended every CDMA since its inception. Chile’s Ministry of National Defense hosted the last CDMA virtually in 2020.

June 30, 2022

Gen. Richardson Visits Honduras, Meets With President, Senior Officials

U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, visited Honduras June 29-30 and met with Honduran President Xiomara Castro and other senior officials to discuss continued bilateral cooperation.

Feb. 24, 2022

Gen. Richardson Meets With President Castro, Defense Leaders During Visit to Honduras

U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, met with Honduran President Xiomara Castro Feb. 23 to discuss continued security cooperation and issues of mutual concern.

Sept. 7, 2021

U.S., Central American firefighters train for fire emergencies together

Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras — U.S. Air Force firefighters with the 612th Air base Squadron, based out of Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, hosted another iteration of CENTAM SMOKE, a five-day multinational firefighting training exercise August 23-27.

July 15, 2021

SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Guatemala, Meets with President, Military Leaders

U.S. Navy Adm. Craig S. Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, visited Guatemala July 13-14 where he met with President Alejandro Giammattei and military leaders to discuss security cooperation.

June 25, 2021

Panamá Hosts Central American Security Conference

Defense and public-security leaders from the United States and Central America took part in the Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC) June 24 to discuss ways to strengthen regional cooperation in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

June 10, 2021

JTF-Bravo Winged Warriors awarded Air Medal for actions after Hurricane Eta

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — In the aftermath of Hurricane Eta, northern Honduras experienced severe flooding and water-logged lowlands that resulted in many residents being stranded and left uncertain of being rescued.

Jan. 11, 2021

USS William P. Lawrence Returns From U.S. 4th Fleet Deployment

PEARL HARBOR — Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Jan. 11, following a deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.

Oct. 28, 2020

SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Central America

Adm. Craig Faller visited Central America Oct. 19 – 23 to meet with leaders in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica to discuss continued security cooperation and counter narcotics support.

April 13, 2020

U.S. Coast Guard, International Partners Seize 1,700 Pounds of Cocaine off Central American Coast

The U.S. Coast Guard and Costa Rican authorities seized approximately 1,700 pounds of cocaine Thursday with an estimated value of more than $29 million from a fishing boat in international waters of the Pacific Ocean off Central America.