FYI Miami: June 23, 2022

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TRANSCOM AID: After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Transportation Command has supported the nation and the European Command with 501 flights, 23 vessels, 67 trains, and 1,500 trucks transporting 54.2 million pounds of equipment, 16,106 troops, 7,888 small arms, and 1,468 air defense missiles, among other combat equipment in an effort to support NATO allies. “This is a priority for the President and for the Secretary of Defense, so we’ve been working very hard to get aid to Ukraine as soon as possible,” said Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, in an exclusive interview in Doral with Miami Today. “We have been providing aid to Ukraine since Jan. 21, since before the invasion, and we continue to provide the aid now, both lethal and humanitarian aid, to our partner there.”

SOUTHCOM RELATIONS: As the South America region’s political panorama changes entering a round of elections, the U.S. Southern Command leadership says that although there is always a little trepidation among the partner defense forces, the militaries have already established long-standing relationships that should remain intact regardless of political changes. “We have such a good relationship, and that’s based on human rights, the rule of law, and [helping them] to be able to handle the challenges, so I think that what we see is the military relationship, the goodness that comes out of the exercises, and the investment that we make back into the country, through their militaries and defense forces, outweighs what the political climate might be,” said Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of the U.S. Southern Command. Colombia, the main US ally in the region, elected its first leftist president Sunday, Argentina will have its legislative elections in November, and Brazil is to have its general elections in October. “We just continue to work and do our engagements, our exercises, making them better and stronger [to] be able to defend themselves in the cyberspace, do patrols, and be able to support the police with elections [in] the right way,” she added.

GAS PRICE DIPS: Average gasoline prices in Miami fell 5.4 cents per gallon in the past week to $4.86, according to GasBuddy’s price survey. Prices in Miami are 32.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and $1.91 higher than a year ago. The national average fell 4.2 cents per gallon in the week, averaging $4.97. The national average is up 37.3 cents per gallon from a month ago and $1.92 higher than a year ago. The price of diesel rose 2.6 cents nationally in the past week and stands at $5.80 per gallon.