The Honorable Ambassador Carmen Lomellin, the U.S. flag officer-level representative to the Organization of American States, stands with members of the Naval Academy's Latin American Studies Club. Photo courtesy of Midshipman 1st Class Travis Nicks

The Honorable Ambassador Carmen Lomellin, the U.S. flag officer-level representative to the OAS, brought her staff to discuss a variety of issues with the midshipmen.

The ambassador and her staff spoke candidly with the midshipmen on controversial issues. Topics of discussion included the inequality in Latin America, drug trafficking and the effects of associated gangs, and the Cuban embargo.

On inequality, the ambassador made clear that the OAS sees this as a top priority. Economic inequality in Latin America is among the worst in the world, she said. The disparity in that region between the small number of rich and the masses of poor is illustrated daily by Mercedes-Benz sedans parking between dirty mules tied to hitching posts, said Lomellin. The ambassador’s staff further explained that inequality is the ‘‘root cause” of many other social problems of Latin America, including the rise of drug gangs.

Gangs have emerged from the ‘‘barrios” and shantytowns of Latin America in part as a violent response to economic inequality. The gangs see themselves as simply carving out a better life for themselves – at the expense of everyone and everything around them, said Lomellin.

The ambassador’s staff told the midshipmen that the difficulty of solving a long-term issue like inequality has made the OAS and Ambassador Lomellin focus on shorter term solutions to the gangs, solutions that the rest of Latin America can agree to and feels promotes their sovereignty.

The OAS has worked to promote citizen security as opposed to fighting large drug cartels. The goal is to unite people to a common purpose, rather than cause greater conflict. The new campaign for citizen security is the OAS’s answer to the recent surge in street and organized crime and the general chaos that follows.

The midshipmen members of the LASC appreciated Lomellin and her staff’s taking the time to speak with them, and allowing them to ask questions and raise concerns.

Before their departure, Lomellin offered the midshipmen one final piece of advice for success in military diplomacy: Approach other cultures with ‘‘respect and curiosity,” she said.