Head of the US Southern Command warns about attempts at regional destabilization

The head of the United States Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, warned this Thursday during her visit to Guatemala about the threat posed by different criminal organizations internationally, in their attempt to destabilize the region.

“Transnational criminal organizations seek to detonate regional instability, exacerbating violence and corruption,” said Richardson, who is visiting Guatemala for four days for different events linked to bilateral relations and joint security work.

Richardson also participates in the Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC), a regional event where “defense and public security leaders from the Americas and Europe will exchange ideas, experiences and perspectives on regional collaborative efforts to address security challenges in the 21st century”, according to release issued by the Southern Command.

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Sáenz also explained at the Central American Security Conference that this threat worries not only Guatemala and the US, but all of Central America.

“Environmental security and other factors that cause poverty, migration, discrimination and lack of opportunities for development for the vast majority of our populations throughout the region are threatened,” said the Guatemalan military high command.

Sáenz also specified that to confront such threats “we need to act comprehensively, with all the potential at our disposal to appropriately protect the threats under the legal responsibility of the states.”

Although neither Richardson nor Minister Sáenz made direct mention of groups or organizations about which they warn, the US Treasury Department has has designated for sanctions against organizations from Ireland such as the Kinahan Organized Crime Group (KOCG), Abid Ali Khan from Pakistan or the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) from El Salvador.

”The OCTs subject the people of this region to extortion, robbery, sexual violence and many other dangers,” Richardson asserted.

Richardson was also scheduled to meet with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo.

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