The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series Latin American Militaries Can't Stop the U.S. || Peter Zeihan
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Jan 22, 2026 The discussion highlights the U.S. military's logistical superiority and its ease in toppling Latin American governments. However, the podcast questions the aftermath of such actions and reveals how Latin militaries are unable to project power. Complicated geography and internal fragmentation hinder effective governance and post-conflict stability. Additionally, it draws parallels to historical dollar diplomacy, indicating the potential risks and moral dilemmas of U.S. involvement in the region.
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US Deployment Power Is Decisive
- The United States' global military dominance rests on unmatched deployment and logistics capabilities.
- Peter Zeihan argues Latin American militaries lack that reach and would be quickly defeated in conventional fights.
Geography Fragments Power Projection
- Geography in Latin America fragments populations with mountains and jungles that block internal movement.
- Zeihan says this fragmentation prevents traditional massed warfare and forces localized, fractional conflicts.
Paramilitary Force, Not Conventional Armies
- Latin American states compensate with large paramilitary and guerrilla forces rather than conventional militaries.
- These groups exploit inaccessible terrain to persist where state reach is weak.