Problems and Prospects of Forming Regional Security Complex in Latin America

Latin America today represents a unique region where security issues are particularly relevant in the context of traditional challenges and the transformation of relatively new ones. This study focuses on regional security in Latin America, and examines the problems and factors influencing the development of the regional security complex in Latin America. The author draws on the theory of regional security complexes proposed by B. Buzan and O. Weyver, founders of the Copenhagen School of International Security Studies, as the theoretical basis for this research. This concept helps identify interdependencies between states and analyze the influence of both internal factors and external actors on regional security. The aim of this article is to analyze and conceptualize the regional characteristics of the emerging Latin American regional security complex. Research methods include content analysis of official documents, declarations of regional organizations, case studies of crises, discourse analysis of political statements and media, historical-genetic method, and comparative analysis. The research's novelty lies in its application of the concept of regional security complexes to interpret regional problems as multilayered and socially constructivist processes, complementing and expanding existing approaches to the subject matter. The study also demonstrates how (de)securitization processes and security configurations shape the contemporary Latin American agenda and influence international relations in the region. The findings highlight factors contributing to the gradual formation of a Latin American security complex. The degree of mutual engagement between states in regional security issues is multidimensional, with security perceptions varying in individual subregions depending on historical experience, level of economic development, and political context. Regional autonomy is strengthening against the backdrop of the securitization of the United States as an "imperialist power." The overall threat dynamics demonstrate their growth and diversification, with an emphasis on internal processes: transnational crime, drug trafficking, and migration flows. There is a growing need to respond to environmental issues and social protests, indicating a broadening of the traditional understanding of security. The study also identifies circumstances that hinder the further development of this process. Although common mechanisms of cooperation, normative and discursive practices that shape security perceptions are emerging in the region, internal characteristics and historical contexts create differences in the rhetoric and priorities of individual countries.