America Security News.- President Barack Obama and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, right, leave a joint news conference in Mexico City, Mexico, Thursday, May 2, 2013. Credit to AP Photo

Last week, Mr. Obama returned to capitals in Latin America with a vastly different message. Relationships with countries racked by drug violence and organized crime should focus more on economic development and less on the endless battles against drug traffickers and organized crime capos that have left few clear victors. The countries, Mexico in particular, need to set their own course on security, with the United States playing more of a backing role.READ WHOLE ARTICLE HERE

The Americas Security News.- President Fernandez de Kirchner in front of Falkland Malvinas Islands painted like the Argentine national flag

According to The Sunday Times, Argentina is developing missile technology that could threaten the Malvinas/Falkland Islands.

The british newspaper has learnt that military scientists in Argentina are building a rocket capable of being fired into space to an altitude of about 250 miles. Experts believe such technology could, in time, develop into a missile with a range of up to 372 miles.

This would put it easily within range of the Falklands, which are about 300 miles from the Argentine mainland, and could transform the balance of power in the south Atlantic.

Lord West, the former security minister and first sea lord, said he believed the only logical reason to develop such technology was to threaten the Malvinas/Falklands.

Chavez and Ahmadinejad. Photo Credit Elmer Martinez AFP Getty Images

During the last six months, Iran is developing an offensive in Latin America.  Tehran views the latinamerican region as one of the main points to overcome its increasing international isolation due to its nuclear program.

The Iranian strategy is comprehensive. For example, a few weeks ago, the inhabitants of Quito were surprised by the appearance of  street billboards calling to commemorate a new anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini.

the posters read “a lifetime dedicated to the people and the revolution”.

During the event, held on 31 May in the Auditorium of the National Council of Pichincha with the presence of Iranian diplomats, Khomeini was compared to the latinamerican independence hero Simón Bolivar.

The event was broadcasted by Hispan TV, a satellite TV channel that the Iranian regime inaugurated last December, which broadcasts news in Spanish on a 24 hours a day  basis and whose main target is the Latin American audience.

Another way of showing the Iranian involvment in the subcontinent are the Iranian diplomacy,  who have increased their activity and presence in the region. In  the case of Bolivia,  Iran has 145 diplomats accredited, more than the rest of the diplomatic corps in La Paz.

Spain, with all its historical relationship with Iran  has  between 8 and 10 Iranian diplomats.

The estimated number of Iranian diplomats accredited in Venezuela is even greater than in Bolivia.

Another important step taked by Iran is the several visits of  Iranian officials to Latin America that are constant and often are accompanied by economic benefits for the countries visited.

Recently over a week ago, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended  a Summit on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro and then started with a mini tour in South America,  announced a few days in advance.

It is the second visit of the Iranian President in six months and the fourth in the same period of a senior Iranian top government official.

Last January, Ahmadinejad visited Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba and Nicaragua. In May it was the turn of the vice president, Ali Saeidlo, who made the same tour also including Bolivia.

In Managua, Iranian officials announced the cancellation of debt of Nicaragua with Iran.

Days before the Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi visited Bolivia , who opened the Defense College of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), the regional integration organization that emerged on the personal initiative of Hugo Chavez. About Vahidi weighs an international warrant for his involvement in the bombings in 1992 and 1994 in Buenos Aires against the Embassy of Israel and Argentina Jewish Mutual, which caused a total of 115 dead.

In their travels, Vahidi was accompanied by Iranian representative Kanbiz Jalali, head of the Directorate General for Latin America created by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Jalali is a  diplomat with extensive experience in the region.

Tehran is focusing on military and defense issues. In less than 24 hours has signed a military assistance pact with Bolivia. Also the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez admitted the announcement  that Venezuela is building drones under the supervision of Iranian engineers.

Ramin Keshavarz, a leading member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, is responsible for overseeing the project.

One the other hand, Brazil is not so enthusiastic about Iran . President Rousseff refused to meet privately with Ahmadinejad, despite Iran’s insistence.

Brazil is not the only obstacle. Colombia is also resisting Iran´s “charme” offensive, while in Argentina the Iranian official representation only adheres to senior diplomats, due to the arrest warrant that Justice has issued Argentina against senior Iranian officials , including Vahidi and Ali Rafsanjani, due to the bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires (AMIA).

However, this diplomatic chill has not stopped the trade between the both countries, that has gone from zero to $ 400 million in just four years, or since 2010 Iran is the second world soybean buyer Argentina.

The Americas Post - The Argentine government seems to have forgotten about these guys

British Prime Minister David Cameron warned Argentina on Thursday that his nation stands ”ready and willing” to defend the Falkland Islands, 30 years after Britain recaptured the South Atlantic archipelago from Argentine occupiers.

In a speech to commemorate the 1982 British victory over Argentina, Cameron accused Argentina’s government of “aggression” and said there would be “absolutely no negotiation” over sovereignty of the tiny islands, about 300 miles off the Argentine coast.

Tensions have grown between the two countries in recent months, especially since British companies started to carry out offshore oil exploration. Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has reasserted claims to the scattered islands, known in Spanish as Las Malvinas.

“My message to the government of Argentina is this. The UK has no aggressive intentions towards you,” Cameron told an audience including British veterans of the two-month war to retake the Falklands, which resulted in the deaths of 255 British and about 650 Argentine soldiers.

“But do not underestimate our resolve. Threats will not work. Attempts to intimidate the islanders will not succeed. Because Britain stands ready and willing to stand up for the Falkland Islanders at any time.”

Britain says there could be talks on sovereignty only if the islanders wanted them. The islands’ government said on Tuesday it would hold a referendum, probably next year, of its 3,000 inhabitants to see if they wanted to stay part of Britain’s self-governing overseas territories.  Argentine Defense Minister Arturo Puricelli dismissed that idea out of hand.

“It’s a paradox to ask the usurpers to debate whether or not they want to continue usurping,” he said in a speech on Thursday marking the end of the war.  “Argentina has historic, legal and geographic arguments in favor of our sovereignty over the Malvinas,” he said.

Gavin Short, chairman of the Falklands Legislative Assembly, said he was certain the residents would back a continued link with London and Cameron said this would clarify the position “beyond any doubt”.

Argentina accuses Britain of colonialism over the archipelago London has controlled since 1833. Fernandez was due to attend a meeting of the U.N. Decolonisation Committee on Thursday to raise the issue and push for talks.

“Britain’s excuses for not negotiating are unfounded,” Alicia Castro, the Argentine ambassador to London, wrote in an article for the Independent newspaper.  ”They cannot hide behind the so-called self-determination of the islanders when no UN resolution has recognised such a right.”

In addition to stepping up its rhetoric, Argentina has been applying diplomatic and economic pressure.  In December, the South American trading bloc Mercosur – including associate member Chile – agreed that vessels sailing under a Falkland Islands flag would be banned from docking at any of its ports as an act of solidarity with Argentina.

Cameron said he wanted a sensible relationship with Buenos Aires and a partnership over issues such as fishing.

“There is only one shadow on the horizon. And that is the aggression from over the water,” Cameron said.  ”We’ve seen the (Argentine) president trying to restrict the movement of Falklands vessels, banning charter flights to and from Argentina and today, escalating the debate at the U.N.”

The Americas Post - Apparently a minefield that's nearly forty years old can still pack a punch

Chilean army explosives specialists recovered the remains of a Peruvian taxi out of a minefield on Saturday. At least one person was killed in the explosion that tore apart the taxi the night before.

Authorities say the driver went off-road and entered a well-marked minefield after dark Friday night in apparent attempt to avoid border controls.

The police official at Chile’s Chacalluta border crossing said that more than one person was killed.  The on-duty official spoke on condition of anonymity per police policy.  Later reports, however, indicated a single taxi driver was killed while attempting to smuggle American-made clothing into Peru from Chile.

The vehicle exploded after hitting an anti-tank mine in an area known as “Quebrada Escritos,” several miles south of Peru.  Chile and Peru are working with the Organization of American States to hire an international company to clear the mines.

The dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet laid hundreds of thousands of mines along Chile’s borders with Peru and Bolivia in the 1970s, when it feared invasion from the north. Chile had sent most of its forces to the extreme south to defend against threats from Argentina. War was avoided after Pope John Paul II intervened.

The Americas Post - US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is looking for some neighborly support

During his trip to Colombia, Brazil and Chile this week, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta emphasized the role of those three neighbor countries as military partners in a region where U.S. influence is being challenged by China. And as the military relationships grow, defense officials say it can only help U.S. economic and political ties across the continent.

Panetta’s meetings with defense officials from the three nations also focused on how the US can support their military efforts, including those directed at the expanding threat of cyberattacks, according to several senior officials.

U.S. officials left the region hoping that South Americans may help train Afghan forces after NATO troops leave at the end of 2014. Officials provided no details on which nations might eventually be willing to take on some of the training mission, which will be in need of advisers as other NATO nations pull their troops out.

With the U.S. shifting away from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon’s new strategy places more importance on the Asia Pacific region, where North Korea is a continued threat and China is growing in political and economic influence.

The Pentagon is prepared to move more forces to the Pacific region, including Australia. The U.S. has long provided training, equipment, assistance and a security umbrella for many of the Asia Pacific nations. With coming budget cuts that will reduce the size of the military, the U.S. is looking to South American countries to be more active global partners.

“The United States, just like other countries, are facing budget constrictions — which are going to affect the future,” Panetta said to reporters at a news conference in Brazil. “And what we believe is that the best way to approach the future is to develop partnerships, alliances, to develop relationships with other countries, share information, share assistance, share capabilities, and in that way we can provide greater security for the future.”

Panetta would also like to see the South American countries use their greater military capability to train some of the Central American countries that are not as advanced.

All three defense chiefs — Juan Carlos Pinzon of Colombia, Celso Amorim of Brazil and Andres Allamand of Chile — mentioned cyber threats as a major concern for their countries, including incidents of hacker attacks and data thefts, said U.S. defense officials flying home from Chile, their final stop on the trip.

The three countries, said one of the officials, are requesting help from the U.S. to harden computer networks against hackers and improve their technological skills. The official said there is a recognition of how vulnerable they are, and they want to learn more about the nature of the threat and how to combat it.

That threat, however, is also likely to involve China, which is steadily gaining as a top trading partner and economic developer in South America.  The Asian powerhouse now surpasses the U.S. in trade with Brazil, Chile and Peru, and runs a close second in Argentina and Colombia.

For the first time, U.S. intelligence officials publicly named China late last year as a significant cyber threat. While they did not directly tie attacks to the Beijing government, they said the Chinese systematically steal American high-tech data for their own profit. The unusually forceful public statement seemed to signal a new, more vocal U.S. government campaign against the cyberattacks, which could also involve helping other nations combat similar threats.

The US National Security Agency is an acknowledged world leader in cyber technologies. And U.S. officials have been struggling to work out ways for the government to help other nations as well as the private sector in the United States shore up critical networks.

So far, however, countries around the world have failed to achieve detailed agreements on how to work together. Cyber issues are fraught with legal and political challenges, including conflicting laws and the lack of broadly accepted international guidelines for Internet oversight.

Panetta made it clear as he traveled across the continent that cybersecurity was “a whole new arena” that all the nations are concerned about. He also encouraged the South American nations to expand their security efforts to other regions, including Africa.

“The United States must remain a global power,” Panetta said during a speech in Brazil. “But … more and more nations are making and must make an important contribution to global security. We welcome and encourage this new reality because frankly it makes the world safer and all of our nations stronger.”

The Americas Post - Tempers are flaring over Argentina's recent move to nationalize YPF

Spanish oil company Repsol-YPF announced it will demand over nine billion dollars from Argentina for nationalizing 51 percent of its YPF division, a price tag that has already been rejected by authorities in Buenos Aires.

The Argentine government’s decision to take control of the company has sparked a diplomatic crisis between Argentina and Spain, while provoking a flood of international criticism against the South American country for the abrupt action.

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez on Monday spoke of the country’s largest oil company, which generates half of Repsol-YPF’s revenue, and sent her Congress a bill to expropriate 51 percent of its shares after months of  pressure and blame for reduced oil production in the country.

After years of spending millions on imports that undermine its trade surplus, Argentina wants to regain energy independence.  Many analysts however, doubt that nation’s ability to compensate Repsol-YPF and also find the money for the necessary investments.

“We’re going to request a total valuation of 18 billion dollars,” said Repsol chairman Antonio Brufau, in a two-hour press conference.

Repsol, which held 57.43 percent of YPF, called the decision illegal, but Argentina disputes the amount demanded by the Spanish.

“We will not pay what they say, as Mr. Brufau, 10 billion dollars,” said Deputy Economy Minister Axel Kicillof, speaking before the Senate.  “The valuation of YPF will be based on objective data rather than stock market speculation,” he said.

YPF’s market capitalization is currently about 10.4 billion dollars, but the company has lost nearly a third of its value already in 2012 due to pressure from Argentina and fears of expropriation.

Kicillof said he is reviewing “secret” information to determine the company’s market value.

“The numbers the directors or former directors were talking about in a very careless way about the value of the company will be reviewed as we learn the intricacies of secret information that the company handled,” he told senators.

An Argentine Senate committee began Tuesday to discuss the proposed expropriation, in a meeting attended by Kicilliof and the current auditor of YPF, Planning Minister Julio De Vido.  During the meeting there were harsh exchanges between legislators and officials.

Kicillof suggested that in recent years Repsol funded its international expansion by “squeezing” YPF for the dividends that the company distributed.

According to local law, Argentina should negotiate with Repsol-YPF for compensation. In case of disagreement, a court will decide based on an appraisal yet to be agreed on.

“The range of defensive measures that could be taken is broad and may include individual or class actions in the various countries involved, including  civil or commercial claims for compensation for damages, ” said Brufau.

Argentina already owes hundreds of millions of dollars outstanding in antigovernment decisions in international court.

Argentina’s decision sparked a wave of criticism in the international community, from Madrid to the EU and Mexico.  The Government of Spain confirmed that the case will be discussed on Friday in cabinet.  Speaking at an event in Mexico, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy expressed “deep distress”.

“The company has been seized without any justification or economic reason, and they have to explain what happened”, he said.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Tuesday he expects Argentina to respect international agreements on protection for business with Spain.

“I am seriously disappointed by the announcement yesterday. I hope that the Argentine authorities respect their international agreements and obligations, particularly those resulting from a bilateral agreement on investment protection in Spain,” said Barroso.

The Americas Post - Guess what the argument is really about? Photo Credit: Rockhopper

Britain denounced Argentina for intimidation against the people of the Falkland Islands on Friday, after Buenos Aires announced legal action against companies conducting oil exploration in the disputed South Atlantic protectorate.

Tensions between the two countries have increased approaching the thirtieth anniversary of the Argentine invasion in the Falklands, a conflict that killed 650 Argentines and 255 British soldiers.

The dispute has been revived by the discovery of oil in the islands, which analysts estimate could value 167 billion dollars.

Argentina said Thursday that it would present legal action against any company involved in oil exploration off the coast of the islands, in a bid to pressure London into discussing their claim of sovereignty.

A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron described Argentina’s decision as “regrettable” and the Foreign Ministry said that the Falklands had the right to develop its petroleum resources without interference.

“Argentina’s efforts to intimidate the Falklands are illegal, inappropriate and totally counterproductive,” said a ministry spokesman.  The Foreign Ministry will work with all affected companies to limit the impact of the Argentine legal measures, he added.

London has refused to discuss sovereignty of the islands unless required by its 3,000 inhabitants, who have shown no signs of wanting to do so.

The British explorer Rockhopper, who discovered the site north of Sea Lion Island in 2010, has sought a partner to invest in a project of 2,000 million dollars.  Meanwhile, Borders & Southern and Falkland Oil & Gas is preparing to drill wells south of the island this year.

An industry source in London said on Thursday that legal action against companies involved in oil exploration in the Falklands “will not impact Rockhopper operations”.

Argentina asserts that the exploration and drilling are illegal because it is a disputed area, but the government did not specify what type of legal action it had in mind.

Britain says that the recent decisions in Argentina are an attempt to impose an economic blockade on the remote archipelago. In December, South American trade bloc Mercosur agreed to block ships sailing under the flag of the islands from any of its ports, in solidarity with Argentina.

This month, Argentina said it wanted to renegotiate a 1999 agreement with Britain that allows weekly flights by Chilean airline Lan to the islands and suggested that the state Aerolineas Argentinas fly into the territory.

In February, Argentina filed a complaint at the United Nations for what it considers the “militarization” of the South Atlantic by Britain, after London announced plans to send a destroyer to the area.

Buenos Aires also criticized the mission of Prince William, second in line of succession to the throne, to the islands in his capacity as a search and rescue military pilot.

The Americas Post - Biden would prefer to avoid the subject of drug legalization on his Latin trip

Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday began a tour of Latin America under intense pressure from business and political leaders to speak on a topic that no U.S. official wants to address: the decriminalization of drugs.

The presidents of Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia and Mexico, suffering the consequences of a failing drug war, said in recent weeks that they would like to begin talks on legalizing drugs. Argentina, Uruguay, Peru and Mexico already allow the use of small amounts of marijuana for personal consumption, while the governments of Brazil and Colombia discussed alternatives to incarceration for drug users.

Business leaders have also taken up the cause.  In February, a conference of bankers, doctors and legal experts in Mexico concluded that current drug control policies do not work and should be reformed.

“It’s a different time when heads of state speak of the need to discuss the issue in depth,” said John Walsh, specialist in drug policy at the Washington Office on Latin America, an independent research center. “A few years ago it would have seemed impossible.”

Dan Restrepo, top White House official for Latin American affairs,  said the vice president hopes to maintain a “substantial discussion” on security issues in Latin America, including the battles drug cartels are waging for control of the lucrative U.S. market. But he warned that American leaders should not expect a change in policy from the White House.

“The Obama administration has been clear in our opposition to the legalization or decriminalization of illicit drugs,” said Restrepo.

Biden will arrived in Mexico City on Sunday to discuss economic and security issues with President Felipe Calderon. On Monday he meets with three candidates for the Mexican presidency, who hope to take over from Calderón.

On Tuesday, Biden travels to Honduras to meet with President Porfirio Lobo, along with the presidents of El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala, whose countries face the consequences of drug trafficking.  Drug cartels there have killed tens of thousands of people, have crowded prisons, promoted corruption, influenced elections, undermined democracy and threatened their fragile economies.

“I do think that the issue of legalization is being raised by the leaders to Biden, but privately,” said Walter McKay, policy specialist for security issues in Mexico.  Over 47,500 people have been killed there since 2006 in drug-related violence.

The Americas Post - New demand for undersea oil has made the Falklands a bone of contention again

Recent diplomatic tension between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands may affect growing bilateral trade which last year totaled 1.4 billion dollars, a new report indicates.

Among Argentina’s 10 export markets under stress, the most significant is that of Great Britain, destination for 7.5 percent of Argentine sales to the European Union, says a study by International Business Development (DNI) in Buenos Aires.

“Exports to the UK are vulnerable to current diplomatic conflict over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands,” the report states.

Argentine exports to the United Kingdom in 2011 reached approximately 805 million dollars while imports totaled 655 million, leaving a trade balance in favor of Argentina of about 150 million dollars, according to the report.

Unfriendly words between Argentina and Great Britain have been heard a lot recently, a few weeks before the 30th anniversary of the war for the Falklands, over which both nations claim sovereignty. Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez last week accused Britain of “militarizing” the South Atlantic in response to British plans to move to a warship to the area. Fernandez denounced the plans to the United Nations.

Argentina’s main exports to Britain are soybean oil, soybean meal, wine, corn, seamless tubes, some chemicals and peanuts. Companies of British origin operating in Argentina directly or with partners include Shell, BP, Cadbury, Sweppes, Diageo, Nobility Picardo and HSBC, among others.

The main exporters to Britain from Argentina are the agribusiness firm Cargill, Minera Alumbrera, of Anglo Swiss Xstrata, Louis Dreyfus and Ford.