New Threats and Defense Transformation: The Case of Latin America

Abstract

Defense transformation is the most important issue in the United States today. For this reason, the United States is working with NATO to try to achieve a global military transformation in western countries. In Latin American countries, however, the situation is different due to the existence of other variables that have an impact on the armed forces organizational structures. In this article, the author analyzes defense transformation in the United States and the situation in South America, placing emphasis on the nature and the constitutional framework as the most important transformational axis in Latin America, whereas in the United States the center of gravity is the transformation of military capabilities.