The WHINSEC/IADC 2025 High-Level Alumni Seminar was held in the Dominican Republic from September 22 to 26, bringing together civilian and military leaders from across the hemisphere. At the opening ceremony, it was emphasized that the meeting's central objectives were to strengthen cooperation in regional defense and security, promote strategic education, and consolidate alliances based on respect for human rights and the law of armed conflict.
The participation of Major General César Macedo, President of the IADB Council of Delegates, marked the beginning of the event. In his remarks, he emphasized the IADB's responsibility as a technical body of the OAS to provide defense advice, promote the legitimacy of armed forces, and contribute to democratic stability on the continent.
Throughout the seminar, the leadership of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) was highlighted as a hemispheric pillar in the training of strategic leaders through the Inter-American Defense College (IADC) and in the promotion of ethical values through cooperation with WHINSEC. The IADB reaffirmed its commitment to working to prepare officers and civilians capable of responding with strategic vision to transnational challenges.
The event also emphasized that collective security cannot be separated from legitimacy: victory without respect for human rights is not a true victory. Under this premise, it was emphasized that defense leadership must combine operational excellence with moral clarity, building trust between the armed forces and the societies they serve.
Within the framework of the seminar, Major General César Macedo met with the Minister of Defense of the Dominican Republic, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre. This meeting served to consolidate institutional ties and reaffirm the shared commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in defense and security.
