Southern Cone in February 2026: the most important developments in security
The Southern Cone's most reported security event in February 2026 was a gas truck explosion in Santiago, Chile, on February 19. Reports gave between three and four dead and between 10 and 20 injured, with at least 50 vehicles damaged.
In Argentina, police and protesters clashed on February 19 and 20 as workers went on strike against President Javier Milei's labor reform. Argentina also expanded military ties with the United States. A joint exercise was planned on February 5, a deal was signed on February 6, Argentina took part in a Pentagon-convened military summit on February 11, and on February 25 it agreed to pay a US firm $33 million to train F-16 pilots. Italy and Argentina held a separate summit on military cooperation in Buenos Aires on February 10.
Other items included the release of an Argentine man held in Venezuela on February 2, the arrest of two minors in Argentina over a school massacre plot after an FBI tip, and life sentences for members of the Sena clan for femicide. An Argentine lawyer accused over a racist gesture was detained in Brazil, and Argentina sought diplomatic intervention on his behalf. On February 24, the US alleged that a foreign hack had targeted Chile and canceled visas of officials.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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