MLAC 2022 Brazil: Security and defense challenges of the Americas

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Marine Corps of the Chilean Navy attended the ninth edition of the Marine Leaders of the Americas (MLAC 2022) conference to foster professional relationships and discuss modern, creative, and efficient solutions to common problems and issues in the Western Hemisphere.

The Marine Leaders of the Americas conference was held May 23-27 in Brazil, commemorating the bicentennial of its independence and the creation of its Navy (Marinha). The theme of the 2022 edition was Security and Defense of the Americas: the Present and the Future.

MLAC is a biannual event held for the first time in Ecuador in 2001, whose objective is the exchange of experiences between the Marines of North, Central, and South America, thus strengthening the bonds of friendship and building an atmosphere of harmony and cooperation.

The 2022 edition was attended by representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, São Tomé and Príncipe, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.

CHALLENGES AND SHARED VALUES

The commanding general of the Brazilian Navy’s Naval Rifle Corps, squadron admiral (FN) Jorge Armando Nery Soares, pointed out that “modern conflicts confirm the strategic importance of the Marine Forces. We note that more than 70% of the earth’s land surface is covered by water, and approximately 80% of the world’s population is concentrated in urban agglomerations, in narrow coastal strips.”

“The continuous evolution of threats, which, for example, recreates the old practice of piracy, once again affects international law, putting our maritime trade at risk. That is why this type of conference is so important. We need to be together, sharing the responsibilities and experiences of our countries’ Marine Corps troops,” he said.

The commandant of Marine Corps Forces South (Marforsouth), Lt. Gen. David Bellon, highlighted the character of this meeting in allowing for open and honest dialogue about shared threats throughout the hemisphere and finding ways to work together.

“The importance of bringing together our Marine and Marine Corps leaders at MLAC cannot be overstated. We all have a deep relationship through shared challenges, shared values, and a shared neighborhood in the Western Hemisphere,” Bellon said.

“These opportunities to come together are significant in advancing our collective security. We are grateful to our Brazilian hosts for organizing this year’s event and continuing to stand out as leaders in the region,” he said.

With information from InfoDefensa