On February 26-27, 2025, the Perry Center participated in the 3rd Annual International Congress on Hemispheric Security and Defense: Challenges and Cooperation in a Context of Global Change, held in Bogota, Colombia. The two-day event, organized by the Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano alongside the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada and the Academia Naval de Estudios Estratégicos, welcomed one hundred and fifty participants including professionals, academics, members of the armed forces, government officials, and students from across Latin America, many of whom are Perry Center alumni, to this important hemispheric security and defense gathering.

The plenary sessions addressed leading challenges including defense adaptation, emerging threats, and civil-military relations, as well as the role of the armed forces in protecting strategic resources, and cooperative efforts to respond to disasters. Additional topics included cybersecurity strategies, efforts to dismantle transnational organized crime, and the influence of emerging technologies on modern conflicts. The event also examined ways to strengthen governance of military institutions and build trust between the military and civilian populations.

Featured speakers included Perry Center professors Dr. David Spencer, who spoke on “Defense Adaptation and Crisis Management,” and Celina Realuyo, who addressed “Emerging Transnational Threats in the Americas.” During the event, experts, academics, military personnel, and government officials engaged in discussions through keynote presentations, and panels. Discussions drove the exchange of perspectives across borders and collaboration on actionable solutions to strengthen regional stability, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to confront escalating security challenges.

The Perry Center staff and faculty also co-hosted an event with over 100 alumni from the Perry Center and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, further strengthening international networks to confront the security challenges of today and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.