Hacia una política de cooperación en seguridad y defensa con Iberoamérica.

The initial purpose of this paper was obviously and as indicated by the title to analyse both the Security and Defence situation in Ibero-America and the cooperation policy on this issue with said region. However, considering that the term «Ibero-America» could limit the scope of this region confining it to its geographic field, and to the Spanish view –or that of Spain and Portugal at the most which would somehow justify the term «Ibero-America»–, it was extended to cover Latin America and the European Union, the latter as a Political Unit that will in the future develop a coordinated foreign policy, of which Security and Defence policy is an essential component.
The first part of this paper provides an overall analysis of Latin America regional stability. The second part offers some considerations on the
current European Union and Latin America cooperation, the strategy of which is to go step by step through successive approaches in order to
firmly reach, if possible, a Biregional Strategic Association between both regions whenever Latin America regional integration allows for it.
Some considerations follow about the role that defence diplomacy plays in the European Union-Latin America cooperation on security and defence,
where defence diplomacy activities are those carried out by the Ministry of Defence to provide support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as
a tool to influence State security and foreign policy in countries of interest. The most outstanding among these activities are those carried out by
Defence Attaché Offices together with training-related activities for the military and bilateral contacts between high profile defence administration
representatives. The Latin American Defence and Security agenda based on the current political situation follows.
The effects resulting from adding the concept of «human security» to the traditional Security and Defence agenda are dealt with from this perspective, as well as problems involved in the increasing «securityzation» of political life in countries in the region.
Next security in Latin America is reviewed from the European point of view.
A comparison of joint cooperation processes concerning security both in Europe and Latin America is considered to be complex as regards methodology, and said processes cannot be compared partly because of the differing degree and phase of integration and because of the process being followed to this regard in each one of the two regions.
The paper goes on to present a detailed research on the current situation and challenges facing European Union-Latin America (EU-LA) biregional
cooperation on Security and Defence. This research could conclude that although the European Union has been showing an interest in succeeding
to make Latin America a secure and stable region, it is not clear to what extent is the European Union capable and willing to prioritise the security
and defence issue in EU-LA biregional relations.