As the US administration intensifies its security strategy in the Western hemisphere, and local frustrations grow among populations contending with criminality and violence, Latin American governments face pressure to stem drug trafficking and organised crime. With some states turning to a more heavy-handed approach, Neil Mugabe considers the challenges…
Coordinated armed attacks by armed groups have increased in Colombia in recent months, despite attempts (and some successes) by the government to negotiate and demobilise them. Tamsin Hunt considers how Colombia’s evolving security landscape will test the incoming administration.
While extortion and kidnapping have long been features of Mexico’s criminal landscape, recent incidents, including the kidnapping of 10 workers from a Canadian-owned mining site, highlight the persistent threat to Mexico’s business environment, writes Shannon Lorimer.
Hijackings continue to pose significant risks for businesses and private citizens as global economic pressures drive demand for cheaper goods on black markets. Neil Mugabe examines notable trends in hijackings in 2025, and key hotspots where such events are likely to occur.
2025 was a year filled with travel disruptions as a result of a shifting geopolitical landscape, regional conflict, and in some cases, domestic political dynamics. Tamsin Hunt examines some of the security trends that will continue to affect global travel over the coming year.
Amid heightened geopolitical tension and rivalry, the ways in which countries compete to secure influence and strategic goals have shifted in recent years. Richard Gardiner explores how conflict dynamics are likely to unfold in 2026, and the implications these may have for commercial operators in key hotspots.
In 2025, extortion and associated violence have continued to skyrocket in Peru, targeting a wide range of sectors, including those previously thought to be immune. Shannon Lorimer looks at the conditions enabling and fuelling extortion, as the practice and its implications continue to disrupt commercial operations and threaten political stability.
In August and September, tensions between the US and Venezuela ramped up over the latter’s alleged role in transnational organised crime. Tamsin Hunt examines the wider security and geopolitical implications of counternarcotic militarisation, and broader pressure from the US on regional governments to stem the practice.
A spike in violence by militant groups in recent months reflects a deteriorating security landscape in Colombia. This increase, alongside weakened security forces, and a breakdown in peace negotiations with armed groups, has heightened concerns ahead of the elections in March 2026, writes Shannon Lorimer.
In mid-2025, informal miners in Peru blockaded highways in multiple parts of the country in response to the government’s decision to remove thousands from a registry which allowed them to operate legally. With tens of thousands of miners affected, and the government facing growing pressure from lawmakers to curb illegal mining, Shannon Lorimer argues…
After being re-elected to serve his first full term as Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa faces significant challenges to improve the country’s dire security situation. His approach will define the country’s security trajectory for the coming years, writes Shannon Lorimer.
Mexico’s judicial reforms have the potential to politicise judges and undermine the rule of law, weakening the country’s already fragile judicial institutions. These moves hand the ruling party more influence, and threaten further demonstrations, decreased investor confidence and political instability, writes Shannon Lorimer.