SSI research professors and faculty consider the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term, strategic implications for the U.S. Army and national security.  Each essay provides an independent, specialized view on a particular aspect of the challenges posed by COVID-19 and includes recommendations on how the Army and DoD should address those issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic will have profound and enduring negative effects on Latin America and the Caribbean, significantly impacting the security, interests, and strategic position of the United States. Department of Defense and other US senior leaders should begin planning now to mitigate or manage the consequences.

Criminal groups across Latin America have been forced to dig deep by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Moving drugs and contraband, shaking down extortion victims and getting migrants across borders have all become far more difficult amid increased scrutiny and the lack of human activity.

The DRG Center has produced a paper on COVID-19: DRG Issues and Potential USAID Responses to help inform USAID strategies and programming from a DRG perspective. The paper outlines technical issues related to DRG and COVID-19 and details potential sector-specific and cross-sectoral USAID responses, including in the areas of governance, rule of law, human rights, elections and political transitions, inclusion, civil society, and media.