The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have revived interest in asymmetric tactics, and two prominent Latin American voices now ask whether the region itself might turn to what they call “guerrilla geopolitics”.

In a recent commentary, former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge G. Castañeda and former Chilean Economy Minister Carlos Ominami argue that smaller powers can compensate for conventional military weakness through drones, choke points, and other irregular methods already tested on those distant battlefields.

Despite its vast resources, Latin America, they note, remains a minor player. Right-wing, pro-American gains and growing US pressure, they suggest, could push governments toward “acquiescence” rather than non-alignment.

The implication, however, may be broader: given Washington’s increasingly aggressive actions (one just needs to think of Maduro’s capture), such pressures could also encourage political actors to look for unconventional ways to assert greater autonomy. Or, as the authors put it, “it would not be surprising if (Che) Guevara’s book finds a new audience.”

The deeper issue, however, is the globalization of irregular military expertise – and the blurring lines between soldier, mercenary, contractor, criminal combatant, and intelligence operative.

As the authors put it, “the guerrilla arsenal has expanded to include autonomous drones and maritime choke points,” allowing weaker states to resist stronger adversaries and produce stalemates.

First-person-view drones (FPV) have made some forms of combat much cheaper and more........

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