Panels covered a wide range of issues

The Second International Security Congress was held from February 28 to March 1, 2024, in Quito, Ecuador, bringing together international and national experts to discuss best practices and advanced research in security matters. This 3-day event was sponsored by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces University of Ecuador (ESPE), and the Perry Center and was attended by over 1600 participants in person and online.

Perry Center Professor Dr. Boris Saavedra presenting on cyber issues

Topics for this year’s Congress focused on combating organized crime, maritime security, and cybersecurity and their impact to national and citizen security as well as the larger South American subregion. Perry Center Director Dr. Paul Angelo and Ecuador’s Minister of Defense, Giancarlo Loffredo, inaugurated the event. Perry Center professors Celina Realuyo, Dr. Boris Saavedra, along with visiting faculty LCDR Diego Cabuya, each provided keynote presentations. Additionally, several Perry Center alumni from Mexico and Ecuador served as speakers and moderators for this international activity. The first annual International Security Congress was held in Toluca, Mexico in March 2023 and the next International Security Congress will be held in Bogota, Colombia in 2025.