27th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – Threats to US National Security in the Western Hemisphere

Hon. Mariano Federici warned that Latin America is undergoing a troubling shift marked by rising authoritarianism, organized crime, corruption, and growing external influence from China, Russia, and Iran. While emphasizing that the region remains largely democratic and full of citizens committed to freedom, he stressed that democratic institutions are increasingly under threat.

He highlighted the dictatorships in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua as central drivers of repression and instability, pointing in particular to Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro, where political repression, corruption, and criminal networks have fueled economic collapse and a massive migration crisis. He also underscored the dramatic rise of organized crime, noting that Latin America accounts for a disproportionate share of global homicides, with cartels infiltrating politics and weakening the rule of law, especially in Mexico and Venezuela.

Hon. Federici described corruption as the “cancer” of the region, arguing that impunity enables criminal networks and undermines democratic governance. He warned that even reform efforts, such as those in Argentina, risk failure if integrity and institutional independence are compromised.

Finally, he raised concerns over the expanding influence of China through infrastructure and telecommunications projects, Russia through military cooperation and cyber activity, and Iran through political and military ties with regional regimes. He criticized recent U.S. policy for underestimating these threats but expressed hope that new leadership in Washington would adopt a stronger, clearer strategy to defend democracy and counter authoritarian influence in the Western Hemisphere.