Space Forces Southern was designated for activation on Wednesday during a ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Located near Tucson, Arizona, the base’s activation represents an integral part of “formalizing the command’s role in integrating space capabilities across the Western Hemisphere” by U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Space Force.

The new unit will be the space component of U.S. Southern Command and will function as the main base for collaborative space operations in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, according to reports. It will be an integral component in merging “space power with joint, interagency, and multinational partners to support regional security, deterrence, and stability” across those regions.