On November 18, the Center for Complex Operations at National Defense University (NDU) and the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies held a Hemispheric Forum entitled “The Changing Western Hemisphere.”

Kicking off the event was a discussion featuring General John Kelly (Commander, USSOUTHCOM) and Colombia’s Ambassador to the United States, Juan Carlos Pinzón. They covered issues including pressing regional security challenges, hemispheric partnership, and the lessons we should learn from Colombia’s experience. PRISM editor Michael Miklaucic served as the moderator.

Following a short intermission, a panel was moderated by Perry Center Professor of Practice Celina Realuyo, and included Inés Bustillo (ECLAC), Douglas Farah (Visiting Senior Fellow, NDU), Vanda Felbab-Brown (Brookings Institution), and Brian Fonseca (Florida International University). The panel examined economic threats to security in the region, extra-regional actors, citizen responses to insecurity, and the non-governmental relationships as the emerging dominant bond within the hemisphere.

The live audience at NDU was joined by an international audience, as the entire event was broadcast online. The event was held in English, simultaneous interpretation into Spanish was provided to both the live and online audience.