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The United States and Colombia have launched Exercise Southern Vanguard 2027, bringing together approximately 800 military personnel for combined training focused on jungle warfare, counter-improvised explosive device (IED) operations, maritime security, and cyber defense.

The 41st iteration of the annual exercise began on November 2, 2026, at Tolemaida, Colombia, and is scheduled to continue through mid-November, as Washington strengthens its military engagement across the Western Hemisphere.

Hosted by the Colombian National Army, sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and led by U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, the exercise involves approximately 350 U.S. military personnel and more than 400 Colombian soldiers.

The training is designed to improve interoperability, strengthen operational readiness, and develop the ability of both forces to conduct coordinated operations in challenging environments.

The opening ceremony brought together military representatives from both countries, who emphasized the importance of their longstanding security partnership. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Peter L. Gilbert, deputy chief of staff of U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, said the cooperation between the two militaries extends beyond the units participating in the exercise, describing the relationship as institutional, professional, and enduring.

Jungle Warfare and Counter-IED Training

Following the opening ceremony, American and Colombian troops began combined field training focused on jungle warfare and counter-IED operations. These activities are intended to prepare soldiers for operating in difficult terrain, identifying explosive threats, and coordinating movements in environments where visibility, mobility, and logistical support can be limited.

The exercise also includes command post training and field operations covering maritime interdiction, ground security, cyber defense, and interagency cooperation.

U.S. Army and Colombian Army soldiers conducted jungle operation, anti-mine, and anti-sniper training during exercise Southern Vanguard 2027 on Nov. 3, 2026, at Tolemaida, Colombia. This combat readiness is critical to protecting regional sovereignty and combating narco-trafficking networks. The exercise is focused on strengthening regional security and cooperation. It includes more than 250 U.S. military personnel and 400 Colombian soldiers conducting training on maritime interdiction, ground security operations, cyber defense, and interagency cooperation. #SV27 #PeaceThroughStrength @USArmyWHC @USArmy @COL_EJERCITO @FuerzasMilCol @USEmbassyBogota @DeptofWar @10MTNDIV

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) November 5, 2026

The exercise allows both militaries to exchange operational knowledge, improve coordination between different units, and strengthen their ability to respond to a range of security challenges.

Medical evacuation training is also part of the exercise. According to the U.S. Army, troops are conducting evacuation drills from Tolemaida Military Base to the Colombian Army’s Cavalry School in Bogotá, testing their ability to move casualties between operational locations and medical facilities.

Colombian Army Brig. Gen. Edilberto Cortés, chief of the Force Generation Staff, welcomed the participating forces and said their presence demonstrated a shared commitment to improving military readiness and strengthening the historical relationship between the two countries.

US’s Growing Focus on the Western Hemisphere

Southern Vanguard 2027 comes as the U.S. military places greater emphasis on the Western Hemisphere as part of a broader shift in American defense priorities. The establishment of U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command in late 2025 reflected this change, giving the region a more prominent position in the Army’s organizational structure and operational planning.

The shift is also reflected in the 2026 National Defense Strategy, which places greater emphasis on defending the U.S. homeland and strengthening security across the Western Hemisphere. This represents a broader adjustment in Washington’s military priorities, with increased attention to regional security, strategic infrastructure and the protection of American interests across the Americas.

At an annual U.S. Army conference in October 2026, Gen. Joseph Ryan, commander of U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, identified economic influence as a central objective of Washington’s regional strategy. He argued that the United States had lost ground to China in the region’s economic sphere over the past two decades, describing this development as a national security concern.

The Pentagon has also expanded its focus on jungle warfare capabilities, seeking to improve the ability of American forces to operate in tropical environments. One element of this effort is the reestablishment of a jungle warfare training program in Panama, where U.S. and Panamanian forces are developing specialized skills and operational knowledge. Colombian soldiers are also expected to participate in the renewed Green Hell jungle warfare course.

These initiatives reflect growing U.S. interest in developing forces capable of operating across the region’s diverse environments, particularly in areas where dense vegetation, difficult terrain, and limited infrastructure create additional challenges for military operations.

US-Colombia Military Cooperation

The latest exercise builds on decades of military cooperation between Washington and Bogotá. The two countries have developed extensive training relationships, including cooperation with Colombia’s Lancero course, a demanding military training program comparable in some respects to the U.S. Army’s Ranger School.

Both countries are also members of the Counter Cartel Coalition, chaired by the United States, which focuses on strengthening cooperation against organized criminal networks and related security threats.

Colombia has participated in other regional military activities, including the multinational PANAMAZ exercise, during which participating forces practiced defending the Panama Canal.

The strategic importance of the canal and other regional infrastructure has made maritime security and coordinated military planning increasingly important elements of Western Hemisphere cooperation.

Southern Vanguard is also part of a continuing series of exercises involving U.S. and Latin American forces. The previous iteration, Southern Vanguard 2026, was conducted in Sauce, Peru, and brought together approximately 400 soldiers for jungle warfare training and combined field operations.

The 2027 exercise expands this cooperation through a broader training program involving ground, maritime, cyber, and medical operations. It also provides an opportunity for the U.S. to strengthen military relationships with a longstanding regional partner while improving the readiness of forces operating in the Western Hemisphere.

Fort Drum Exercise

The U.S. Army also recently conducted large-scale combat readiness training at home, with soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, completing Exercise Mountain Peak at Fort Drum, New York, between October 20 and 29.

The force-on-force exercise was designed to evaluate the brigade’s ability to conduct large-scale combat operations against a capable adversary. Soldiers maneuvered through difficult terrain, conducted coordinated assaults, captured key positions, and established defensive positions as the scenario progressed through different phases of combat.

The exercise began with a forcible-entry operation before transitioning into offensive and defensive missions. Throughout the training, units were required to adapt to changing battlefield conditions, coordinate intelligence and supporting fires, and synchronize their capabilities across multiple operational domains.

Observer-controller trainers monitored the participating units, assessing their performance and providing guidance throughout the exercise. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ranger, an observer-controller trainer assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, said the training allowed soldiers to apply techniques and systems developed during previous training while working together in scenarios outside their normal routines.

Mountain Peak also provided an opportunity to evaluate the brigade’s developing multi-functional reconnaissance company and its ability to integrate intelligence with battlefield operations. The exercise incorporated unmanned aircraft systems and counter-unmanned aircraft capabilities, allowing soldiers to assess emerging threats and improve battlefield awareness.

Securing the line: U.S. Army and Colombian Army soldiers provide tactical security during joint anti-mine training on Nov. 2, 2026, at Tolemaida, Colombia, as part of exercise Southern Vanguard 2027. The bilateral exercise is focused on strengthening regional security and cooperation. It includes more than 250 U.S. military personnel and 400 Colombian soldiers conducting training on maritime interdiction, ground security operations, cyber defense, and interagency cooperation. #SV27 #SouthernVanguard27 #PeaceThroughStrength @USArmyWHC @USArmy @COL_EJERCITO @FuerzasMilCol @USEmbassyBogota @DeptofWar @10MTNDIV

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) November 4, 2026

Field Care Capabilities

Beyond combat operations, Mountain Peak placed considerable emphasis on medical readiness, particularly the ability to treat wounded soldiers when evacuation is delayed or access to advanced medical facilities is limited.

Medical personnel practiced prolonged field care, requiring teams to manage casualties for extended periods using available personnel, equipment, and medical supplies under austere field conditions. The training addressed one of the major challenges of large-scale combat, where medical evacuation routes may be disrupted, and frontline medical teams may need to stabilize patients for longer periods.

One of the capabilities tested was Project Valkyrie, which allows medics to use compatible donors at the scene to provide whole-blood transfusions to wounded personnel. The capability is intended to improve access to blood during emergencies when conventional medical supplies may not be immediately available.

Army Staff Sgt. Dominic Vigar, a combat medic specialist assigned to 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, said Project Valkyrie was setting a standard across the U.S. military services.

The medical training demonstrated the brigade’s efforts to improve casualty management alongside its combat capabilities, ensuring that soldiers can continue operating even when medical support and evacuation are constrained.

Preparing for Future Operational Requirements

Mountain Peak served as an important assessment of the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division’s overall readiness ahead of its planned rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center in January 2027.

The exercise allowed commanders to identify areas requiring improvement, evaluate emerging operational concepts and ensure that soldiers could apply their training in demanding combat scenarios.

Army Capt. Connor Bryan, commander of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, said the exercise helped certify the brigade’s readiness to deploy when required, emphasizing the importance of rehearsing tactics, techniques, and procedures before entering operational environments.

Multi-domain dominance—from the sky to the ground: Colombian Army soldiers fast rope from a South Carolina Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk on Nov. 5, 2026, in Tolemaida, Colombia, during exercise #SouthernVanguard27. The exercise is focused on strengthening regional security and cooperation. It includes more than 250 U.S. military personnel and 400 Colombian soldiers conducting training on maritime interdiction, ground security operations, cyber defense, and interagency cooperation. #SV27 #PeaceThroughStrength @USArmyWHC @USArmy @COL_EJERCITO @FuerzasMilCol @USEmbassyBogota @DeptofWar @10MTNDIV @SCNationalGuard

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) November 6, 2026

Together, Southern Vanguard 2027 and Mountain Peak demonstrate the U.S. Army’s efforts to strengthen readiness through realistic combat training, improve cooperation with regional partners, and prepare forces for increasingly complex operational environments.

While Southern Vanguard focuses on interoperability with Colombia and security cooperation across the Americas, Mountain Peak evaluates the ability of American combat formations to conduct sustained operations against a near-peer adversary.