Dr. Downie escorting his Excellency Andres Allamand Zavala and Chilean Ministry of Defense senior representatives into Abraham Lincoln Hall, Fort McNair

On Monday March 5, the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies hosted His Excellency Andres Allamand Zavala, Minister of Defense of Chile. Several senior Chilean defense officials accompanied him, including Subsecretary of Defense Oscar Izurieta and Lieutenant General Hernan Marodones, Chief of the Chilean Joint Staff. Minister Allamand discussed global security and mutual defense issues, specifically the structural changes in the Chilean defense establishment and its system of planning and budgeting for future security challenges. Joining Dr. Richard Downie and CHDS faculty were US government officials from throughout the inter-agency, scholars from local think tanks, and representatives from private industry. The group discussed both Chilean security within a regional context, as well as Chilean engagement with other regional actors.