SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic—Elite commando units from across the Americas tested their skills Monday in a U.S.-sponsored competition for hemispheric bragging rights -- part of an annual event designed to boost military relationships.
The Dominican Republic is hosting more than 500 people representing police and military special operations teams from 18 countries including the United States.
A team from Ecuador held the lead after events in aquatic skills, weapons marksmanship and physical fitness, according to the Dominican Armed Forces Ministry. Brazil, the defending champion, was in second place.
It is the seventh consecutive year for the "Fuerzas Comando" competition sponsored by U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in Latin America.
"Fuerzas Comando's primary objective is to promote regional cooperation of nations in order to deal with the common threats we face," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Hector Pagan, commander of U.S. special operations forces in the region.
The eight-day event, which includes a seminar for senior leaders on security challenges, ends Wednesday with a joint parachute jump at the San Isidro military base, 20 kilometers (32 miles) east of the capital, Santo Domingo.
The other participating nations are Argentina, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
(This version CORRECTS that joint parachute drop comes on last day of event rather than on first day.)
