EXPLAINER - Colombia, Mexico, Cuba: How they measure up to US military might
The three nations lag far behind the world’s most advanced military power, with major gaps in personnel, weapons, assets and budgets
Beril Canakci |
12.01.2026 - Update : 12.01.2026
Colombia’s military is structured for internal security, shaped by decades of conflict with guerrillas and drug cartels
Mexico focuses on counter-narcotics and border security, with the National Guard playing a growing role
Cuba relies on a massive paramilitary network of over 1 million personnel as the backbone of national defense
ISTANBUL
Three Latin American nations – Colombia, Mexico and Cuba – are bracing for potential confrontation with the US as President Donald Trump escalates threats across the hemisphere after Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela.
In the days since, Trump has maintained tense and shifting communications with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, one of the most outspoken critics of the operation.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/explainer-colombia-mexico-cuba-how-they-measure-up-to-us-military-might/3797326#
