Amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, continuous attacks on drug boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific have fueled a silent transformation but profound in the defense strategies of several Latin American countries.
Countries like Peru, Chile or Braziltraditionally focused on “ground” capabilities—patrol vessels, light aviation, marine infantry or special forces—are beginning to look toward capabilities of a different order: satellites, sensors, electronic warfare and spectrum control, giving a strategic turn to its defense priorities, Álvaro Sánchez, general director of Integrasys, explains to EL ESPAÑOL’s El Observatorio de la Defensa.
Faced with an increasingly hybrid threat—where organized crime, armed groups, maritime traffic, drones and covert operations converge—the response can no longer be solely physical. “Operational decisions require knowing what moves, what emits and what communicates in an environment that goes from the coast to space,” he says.
In just over two months, Washington has recognized more than 20 interventions against fast boats in the region, with more than 80 deaths. To this end, the White House has not hesitated to launch the operation “Spear of the South”which includes the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Fordthe most advanced of the US Navy, and the reinforcement of its contingents in allied countries.
But beyond the use of force and deterrence, behind the videos of drug boats neutralized in open waters there is a invisible infrastructure which combines satellites, sensors and jamming capabilities.
The CEO of Integrasys, who just returned from a naval days in Brazil in which navies from the entire region participated, assures EL ESPAÑOL that “Latin American navies show great interest in acquiring new modern defense technologiesprioritizing those tested in combat, such as in the Ukraine conflict.
“The question is no longer just how to intercept a boat. It’s how to anticipate its route, how to interrupt its communications or how to distinguish it in real time from an innocent boat.”
Although navies have solid means—frigates, ocean patrol vessels, aircraft—they recognize that lack a complete vision of the maritime theater.
Illegal fishing, merchandise trafficking and vessels that turn off their geolocators to operate without being detected are taking place in that area. “Many of the geolocators turn off, and it is not legal, simply to not see where they are and what they do.”
Álvaro Sánchez, CEO of Integrasys.
The consequence is a drop in maritime security. “There is much less security at sea” and States need strategic tools with regional coverage.
Furthermore, they feel vulnerable because “almost all the systems they have are old and obsolete.” As global military technology advances, they can’t always keep up, and that creates “uncertainty and fear”, says Sánchez.
That lack weighs more every day, as the operation Southern Spear intensifies the pressure and increases the risk of identification errors or collateral damage.
Sánchez sums it up like this. “The concern is no longer just the speed of the attacks, but the possibility of the conflict spilling over. and reach routes or actors that until now were off the board.”
The CEO of Integrasys assures that “the examples of Venezuela and Colombia are worrying, because criminal groups are increasing their technical capabilities.” “Every day the drug boats are more prepared,” he declares.
And it is not exclusive to the region. “In Spain, for example, they use Starlink, which is very modern and very capable.” This shows that these actors have economic capacity and access to cutting-edge technology.
What satellite intelligence offers
For all these reasons, Latin American defense ministries are evaluating several key capabilities such as satellite surveillance to monitor vast ocean areas, algorithms that detect vessels without AIS and suspicious patterns, and selective interference that blocks communications or GPS in a timely manner, without affecting third parties.
In a hybrid environment, where drug boats, drones or mobile command centers are part of the scenario, the true value lies in obtaining and taking advantage of operational information.
Count on Signals intelligence—whether aerial or satellite—has become a force multiplier. The lack of it, on the other hand, degrades the response capacity. “If you don’t have information about your environment or your enemy, you are going to make worse decisions.” explains Sánchez. That is why these technologies are becoming a priority for the region.
A fast moving board
Operational, technological and political pressures are redefining maritime defense in Latin America. If just five years ago the debate revolved around patrol boats and aerial surveillance, today it focuses on multi-domain intelligence, distributed sensors and electronic warfare.
The expansion of attacks from the Caribbean to the Pacific and the intervention of the United States have left a conclusion that is gaining ground in the general staff: in the face of threats that no longer respect borders or categories, countries need see further, listen better and act sooner.
“We in Spain are worried about Ukraine, which is quite far away; they live very, very close,” says the Integrasys manager. They share the same sea and know that they could be affected as collateral damage.
The proximity of risk generates real psychological tension. “When you see things, you worry and prepare.” And that is exactly what we are seeing: a clear interest in improving capabilities before the situation escalates or enter a new phase.