U.S. Army and Colombian Army launch Exercise Southern Vanguard 2027 with about 800 personnel

U.S. and Colombian soldiers launched Exercise Southern Vanguard 2027 on 2 November, a joint training event involving about 800 military personnel, according to U.S. Southern Command. The Colombian Army is hosting the exercise, which is led by U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command and sponsored by Southern Command.

Roughly 350 U.S. personnel and more than 400 Colombian soldiers are taking part, the command said. It described this as the 41st annual iteration of the exercise, which is meant to build soldier skills, improve joint operations in harsh conditions and strengthen mutual readiness.

What the troops will train on

The programme covers jungle operations and counter-improvised explosive device tactics, along with a command post exercise and a field training exercise. Southern Command also lists broader objectives that include maritime interdiction, ground security, cyber defence and cooperation between government agencies.

What officials said

Brig. Gen. Peter L. Gilbert, deputy chief of staff for logistics (G-4) at U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, said the partnership is institutional and enduring: “Our partnership extends far beyond the formations assembled on this field here.” Brig. Gen. Edilberto Cortés, chief of the force generation staff of the Colombian National Army, praised the shared commitment to collective readiness, the command said.

The announcement also noted that the United States and Colombia have maintained diplomatic relations for more than 200 years. The release gave no detail on the training locations inside Colombia or on the end date of the exercise.

In its description, Southern Command says the exercise aims to improve readiness, reinforce interoperability between the two forces and support peace.

The event is hosted by the Colombian Army and sponsored by U.S. Southern Command, which is based in Doral, Florida, where the announcement was issued on 3 November.