On May 21th 2024, IWI’s Executive Director Guido Torres was published by CSIS about the strategic impact of hypersonic technology in the southern hemisphere. The evolution of hypersonic missile technology marks a significant shift in the global strategic landscape, with a recent U.S. congressional hearing highlighting the swift advances made by nations such as China and Russia. This technological leap into a new era of warfare is characterized by its potential to disrupt existing power balances and introduce strategic ambiguities.
The shifting dynamics of global power are particularly evident in the Southern Cone, where a unique geographic advantage coupled with limited space infrastructure has long drawn space powers seeking to fill technological gaps. South American countries have leveraged these circumstances to develop their national space programs by fostering partnerships that emphasize technology transfer and investment. Even as these domestic initiatives reach new achievements, the presence of foreign partner-operated space infrastructure, notably from China, has grown significantly. In fact, China boasts the largest number of space facilities in the region outside its own territory. This robust investment raises questions about China’s motives, suggesting that its strategic expansion into the Southern Cone is both an extension of its technological prowess and a tactical move to extend its military reach closer to U.S. boundaries.
Read the originally published article here.
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