Seguridad y Defensa de los Espacios Marítimos y Fluviales: Retos Estratégicos en el Siglo XXI desde la Perspectiva Latinoamericana

Abstract

Maritime and river spaces are essential for national security and defense, yet face emerging threats such as piracy, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, smuggling, and environmental disasters. Intensified by globalization and technological advances, these challenges have become increasingly complex. This study, with a qualitative and exploratory-descriptive approach, examines the implications of such threats on governance, sovereignty, and the economic security of Latin American states, as well as the limitations of their defense systems in surveillance, international cooperation, and technological implementation.

Findings reveal that although some countries have modernized their fleets and security strategies, shortcomings remain in naval interoperability, resource allocation, and responses to hybrid threats. The protection of critical infrastructures — such as submarine cables and energy platforms — continues to be a challenge, as does the fight against transnational organized crime. Maritime and river security therefore demands international cooperation, technological development, and stronger policies to enhance states’ adaptive and defensive capacity.