This presentation will examine engagement with Latin America by Iran, its government agents, and surrogate groups such as Hezbollah, including terrorist finance, terrorism, and other activities and their evolution in recent years. It will address the interaction of that presence with the risk of escalating the conflict in the Middle East and weak or anti-U.S. governments in the region who deliberately or unwittingly serve as hosts of actions oriented directly toward the U.S. homeland. This includes movements of personnel and goods across the U.S. borders, as well as indirect effects involving actions in the region impacting U.S. personnel, companies, supply chains, and other equities.
Keywords: homeland defense, homeland secuity, national security, terrorism, counterterrorism, border control, dhs, HDIAC, South & Latin America, geopolitical relations, regional security, Iran, Hezbollah, geopolitical relations, regional security, Argentina, Lebanese, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Panama