WASHINGTON —
The bedrock of America's military advantage is the system of alliances the United States maintains around the world.
Navy Adm. John M. Richardson, the chief of naval operations, reached out to allies in South and Central America at the 28th Inter-American Naval Conference last week in Cartagena, Colombia.
In line with the National Defense Strategy, Richardson is looking to strengthen partnerships with like-minded nations.
Commitment to Regional, Global Institutions
“We are all Americans here; however, we are bound by more than simply our shared geography,” Richardson said during an address to conference attendees. “We share inter-American values and a commitment to regional and global institutions that are designed to confront common security challenges.”
He added, “That we are here together is no coincidence. While military-to-military-relationships are important, I believe Navy-to-Navy partnerships are the ‘first among equals.' These Navy relationships are so natural because we share backgrounds, cultures, knowledge, and a love and respect for the sea and what it can provide.”
That the conference was held in Cartagena was itself significant. The city was once the seat of a notorious drug cartel. Colombia was the scene of the longest-running civil war in the Western Hemisphere. But democratic institutions…
