[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6094978,"mediaKeyId","2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61","parentId",2841313,"title","Commands warn China and Russia are expanding footholds in Western Hemisphere; SOUTHCOM urges more presence and economic tools","audioSeconds",1026,"startMs",2074000,"endMs",3100000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61&start=2074&end=3100","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61/thumbnail_2074000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6094978/Commands-warn-China-and-Russia-are-expanding-footholds-in-Western-Hemisphere-SOUTHCOM-urges-more-presence-and-economic-tools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094978-79fe7eb693f0531bb578abf9cb43b7cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755352&Signature=OE8jjLdjOr9gC0VsTfvcrGHKfsX71WkJE5KYeAEvxkfeLalkx4SVfuDqUoXi84bv2xeNKFKCIgEzpn0Bt6ElSTfuvhzJSpPEcQbjl2GFgBDUCZBjl14ONJlxbpb-FQVR1c~nXUq7b6HvSCHnNyG9~wzp9bBw7NUWqNF7Kqi3TNsF5TGIpbq0RMaf9kBPLfv-S6U~1p4DQWqm5dqYaPsSgMn0p~WiROCxV~V-jbqwgB4gg83fUPGS0-Lez2GRB8OzBn~-trZpeMbS1-orFV8HXtVDrP-g1RSC-cKgA8WAFF4EnfMBNCMeglkfCszPcsBejlo-2F4wG1JRJv5Rc7HJmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Armed Services Committee","date","2025-04-02T02:20:09.233Z","article","Combatant commanders and Department of Defense officials told the House Armed Services Committee that China and Russia are expanding their presence across the Western Hemisphere and that the United States must increase presence and economic alternatives to maintain influence.

Admiral Alvin Halsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command, testified that China has increased investments and dual‑use projects in the region — from ports to telecommunications and critical‑mineral extraction — and that Russia continues military ties with Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. \"China, our patient threat, continues to its methodical incursion into our shared neighborhood,\" Halsey said. He added that Chinese investments can become \"predatory and opaque\" and that partner countries often ask the United States for a visible, reliable presence and security cooperation.

Committee members singled out Panama as an example of shifting alignments; witnesses noted Panama's decision to leave the Belt and Road Initiative and described U.S. efforts to offer alternatives. Admiral Halsey recommended economic tools — such as the Development Finance Corporation, Ex‑Im Bank and the Office of Strategic Capital — and stepped‑up security cooperation, including maritime domain awareness and training, to counter malign influence.

General Guillot and other witnesses emphasized that partnerships with Canada and other allies remain central to homeland defense in the North. Several members raised concerns that trade and diplomatic friction with allies could undermine cooperation; commanders repeatedly described bilateral military relationships, particularly NORAD, as operationally strong.

Ending note: witnesses urged sustained, persistent presence, partner capacity building and U.S. economic engagement to push back against Chinese and Russian influence in the hemisphere.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","20250401: Full Hearing: US Military Posture & National Security Challenges in North & South America","oneSentenceSummary","U.S. combatant commanders told the House committee China and Russia are increasing economic, diplomatic and military influence in Latin America and the Caribbean and urged sustained security cooperation, presence and U.S. investment alternatives to Belt and Road projects.","taxTitle","Armed Services: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1833,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6094983,"NORTHCOM, NORAD urge sensor modernization and warn spectrum sale could undermine missile‑defense plans",8468,1622000,10090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61&start=1622&end=10090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61/thumbnail_1622000.jpg","/articles/6094983/NORTHCOM-NORAD-urge-sensor-modernization-and-warn-spectrum-sale-could-undermine-missiledefense-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094983-a37ce3f6dd83d216001e4a2b103b5b98/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755352&Signature=no2vwjxkuFSUyk3nhSo2FcRHY53sjWI28OxVXXMYst3mRT-KkaaTT3Katp4ZBc~f29-TWgA87VzDf2oy1kb4Am0FHw8wQfSIgUPJ7ZDPL~ty40eZd4BdYvJzcs-S-sqfYDKkNlwF9f2rvUp0hNOoqDt6CAchtEl~u5oZFIckB-l0gbbhqtANbRc8hyyJ7AwyuQYRgYCWZf2hX8QJvUHrKs6B2QQv9OUEZdwulDr1gXn4CGtazcBSXGvynJGeXWfTx1oYWcXZRDG4~xllnXgTz~Esj3sBNuDJp7cXqp-e2RtgmMArl-Wk3Tig0q2a8f9o9yeJPfwWXgayXRUovFEdlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House committee members and DOD leaders discussed long‑range air and missile threats, the department's sensor modernization plans and concerns about spectrum policy.

General Greg Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD, told the panel that modernizing NORAD and NORTHCOM sensors is essential and warned that proposed auctions or sales of spectrum used by military radars would jeopardize detection and tracking. \"Almost all the systems that we use for homeland defense, rely on that part of the spectrum that's being considered to be either sold or shared,\" Guillot said. Later in the hearing he specified the physics constraint that makes roughly the 3–3.5 gigahertz range particularly valuable for combining range and fidelity in radar tracking.

Rafael Leonardo referenced a next‑generation missile shield called the \"Golden Dome for America\" as an administration priority, and witnesses described layered domain awareness as necessary \"because we can't defeat what we can't see.\" Commanders told the committee they are pursuing airborne moving target indicator satellites, over‑the‑horizon radars, E‑7 Wedgetail aircraft and integrated undersea surveillance as building blocks for improved early warning and tracking.

The panel also emphasized evolving threats. Guillot and witnesses highlighted hypersonic weapons as a rapidly evolving challenge because of their speed and maneuverability and said space and sensor investments such as the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) would be important to detection. NORAD/NORTHCOM officials said undersea detection needs have increased because of expanded submarine activity by Russia and China and called for improved undersea sensors.

Ending note: commanders framed modernization and spectrum access as immediate priorities for homeland defense. They urged Congress to consider capabilities across undersea, air and space domains and to avoid reassigning spectrum critical to radar and early‑warning systems.","Commanders testified that layered, all‑domain sensing is essential to homeland defense, raised hypersonic and undersea detection needs, and warned that selling or repurposing spectrum used by DOD radars would jeopardize planned systems including the administration’s proposed national missile shield.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6094988,"Commands warn fentanyl and cartels remain major homeland threats; interdiction improves but gaps persist",4120,2345000,6465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61&start=2345&end=6465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61/thumbnail_2345000.jpg","/articles/6094988/Commands-warn-fentanyl-and-cartels-remain-major-homeland-threats-interdiction-improves-but-gaps-persist","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094988-0e59a460de22174d961693fa0cbefd05/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755352&Signature=eih4w2Z8B7Reet92CKyxn6UVx~2VyDcIjtr1~Og0HDZMtQITfh3OnhzUuSpImOJ-BYMssyVaO59zrXwnItmepL4NRNA0mlxosFTkETyVwi2MfapmE6yja303UG2~EpVBKZVtm0q3V7gotox7rPbL2zKm-RVQKh-rUsIavnQkIWGFIT7ahScsJBq0TIBXuEzwUkXjl4Yx-X4y1UHY25TxtpT0B4LbjJlNhEg2FQewxkyPLHdada-7757bJRTNbltLMxDvMyzOqAFpbLRWxqusMG9~13b94S1jzfUmTQ2XcYlUd9-VtUPr24hO4rxLqrAAQlzmcg4a3rg8VGOO8Im29w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House members pressed U.S. Northern Command and Southern Command leaders about the flow of narcotics and the lethal toll of fentanyl during the posture hearing.

Admiral Alvin Halsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said maritime interdiction operations are on a record pace: \"we have been very deliberate with JAD of South which is a gold standard for interdiction and they have been able to stop record pace at this point. Over 190 metric tons. We're on a record pace to exceed what we did last year.\" He also told the committee \"we typically can action about 10% of what we see\" when asked what fraction of trafficking SOUTHCOM can interdict with available assets.

General Greg Guillot of NORTHCOM testified that sealing parts of the southern border has changed cartel behavior and increased violence as groups seek alternate routes and markets. He described two adaptations: cartels attempt new routes to move people and drugs, and competing groups have increased violence when access is restricted.

Committee members cited mortality statistics during opening remarks; one member noted that \"in the 12 months ending October 2024, over 52,000 Americans died from fentanyl overdoses.\" Witnesses described interagency and partner‑nation efforts to reduce flows. Guillot described a newly created Joint Intelligence Task Force — Southern Border that fuses interagency and DOD intelligence to improve detection and targeting of smuggling networks. Salasas and others said the department continues to study precursor flows into Mexico and the region and to shift operational posture to follow production and transit points.

Witnesses and members agreed on capability shortfalls. Admiral Halsey said more maritime and ISR assets would enable a higher interdiction rate, and several members pressed for additional persistent presence and partner capacity building. The panel also discussed precursor chemicals and the need to disrupt laboratory production in Mexico and other countries rather than only intercept finished shipments at the border.

Ending note: commands reported record interdiction tonnages for some drugs and new intelligence fusion efforts, but they said the United States still lacks the persistent assets needed to interdict a larger share of trafficking and precursor flows.","NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM leaders told the House committee that interdiction activity is at record pace for some drugs, that fentanyl deaths remain high, and that maritime and intelligence gaps limit how much trafficking can be stopped.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6094993,"DOD says troop deployments and Guantanamo housing have helped seal southern border; civilian agencies remain lead",4832,953000,5785000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61&start=953&end=5785","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2841313-6bc1c6a306e6d1a9dbc1608b7235fd61/thumbnail_953000.jpg","/articles/6094993/DOD-says-troop-deployments-and-Guantanamo-housing-have-helped-seal-southern-border-civilian-agencies-remain-lead","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6094993-2a7924a27207cda55d2f6710576637f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755352&Signature=WYPxajDaAQypIbwFYD6SCjGFAELEJvu8XrIXqldutGiAFsqiu7utLExSgItzyHfQrZM0oDh0VvseVbWZwjffmWxMe7vFp4AtWpKrIaT~ZkP5TDRH0cKh1~3SD5NcU~R8gqg5Pt1jTFwf3XpUM8VAzJJrKP3Bo1Pz85OvwsD409GkjrF7uUtqZP~tfdHN1QGMs42JwQVapy-kNFaHWrkuny4YrZYVu1hp4oPHvfUa6xx5--QwZytYxS2scXA48r-4Xv9fqWR928neTUn7r2rGux-WORR54T5Eng5RhuiWgm0GzlVPh-Xl-2AxGtlkEbxBwEH80Ul0nCluReOEkymVdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Mike Rogers convened the House Armed Services Committee to begin fiscal 2026 posture hearings and pressed Department of Defense witnesses on the department's role at the southern border.

Rafael Leonardo, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, told the committee the DOD has supported Department of Homeland Security efforts to \"seal our border\" and reported that the department’s accounting so far for its support is $376,000,000. He said the department has deployed roughly 6,700 Title 10 active‑duty personnel to the border and has ordered as many as 10,000 in place or en route.

The hearing clarified roles and legal limits. Leonardo and General Greg Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD, emphasized that DHS remains the lead federal agency and that DOD forces perform detection, monitoring and support missions rather than law enforcement. Guillot said Title 10 forces do not make arrests, do not transport migrants and \"vector in the border patrol or a proper law enforcement agency to actually make the apprehensions.\" Robert Salasas, senior adviser to the deputy secretary of defense, told the panel that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) currently has housing capacity for about 45,000 higher‑threat detainees and that DOD is filling capacity shortfalls where requested by DHS.

Committee members pressed witnesses about Guantanamo Bay. Leonardo and Salasas said DOD has used Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to support DHS housing requests for select individuals who DHS determines should go there, and they described current operations as tailored and limited. Admiral Alvin Halsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command, told the panel his command is providing logistics and other support to maritime and partner operations in the region; when asked about a scenario housing 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo Bay, Halsey said planning estimates would require roughly 9,000 service members to support that scale but that the command had not been directed to expand to that level.

Members sought legal assurances. Representative Sara Jacobs asked explicitly whether Title 10 forces will detain migrants; Guillot replied, \"I have no orders to conduct any detention,\" and added that units receive training on use‑of‑force standards and legal constraints, including posse comitatus considerations. The witnesses told committee members DOD has requested targeted authorities to counter unmanned aerial systems when those drones are conducting surveillance of deployed forces or installations.

The record the witnesses provided to the committee shows: approximately $376 million expended so far in DOD support, roughly 6,700 active‑duty personnel at the border with up to 10,000 ordered, that DOD performs detection and monitoring in support of DHS, and that DOD does not perform arrests or sustained detention absent DHS authority.

Looking ahead, Leonardo told members the department will continue to assess how long operations must remain in place and to coordinate costs and force requirements with DHS and the services. Guillot and Salasas said maintaining the mission at steady state will depend on DHS capacity, interagency planning and congressional resourcing.

The committee hearing left unresolved several implementation details lawmakers pressed on: how long specific units will remain deployed, the full lifecycle cost if housing requirements grow, and whether expanded authorities requested for counter‑UAS missions will be approved.

Ending note: witnesses thanked the committee for support and said DOD will continue to cooperate with DHS and Congress on force posture, authorities and the shift from surge to steady‑state operations.","At a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense leaders described a surge of Title 10 forces, use of Guantanamo Bay for selected detainees and an ongoing support role for DHS, citing a sharp drop in illegal crossings and outlining cost and legal constraints.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commands warn China and Russia are expanding footholds in Western Hemisphere; SOUTHCOM urges more presence and economic tools

NORTHCOM, NORAD urge sensor modernization and warn spectrum sale could undermine missile‑defense plans

Commands warn fentanyl and cartels remain major homeland threats; interdiction improves but gaps persist

DOD says troop deployments and Guantanamo housing have helped seal southern border; civilian agencies remain lead