Politics, Business & Culture in the Americas

Panama

Former Panamanian president and presidential candidate Ricardo Martinelli (R) and vice-presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino participate in a political rally in Panama City on February 3, 2024. Martinelli kicked off his campaign for the May 5 presidential election on Saturday at a rally with thousands of supporters, a day after his candidacy was put at risk by an unappealable court ruling.
Martinelli’s Shadow Still Dominates Panama Election

The former president’s proxy candidate, José Raúl Mulino, leads the polls ahead of the May 5 vote.

Podcast

AQ Podcast | Venezuela: Maduro’s and the Opposition’s Strategies

A look at what Nicolás Maduro and the opposition are hoping to accomplish with the July 28th election, which virtually nobody expects to be free or fair

Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrives to register his reelection campaign at the National Electoral Council (CNE) in Caracas on Mar. 25.
Maduro Gets His Wish: A Divided Venezuelan Opposition

The July 28 vote may hinge on how Machado and Rosales resolve their differences. Otherwise, regime-controlled institutions will most likely dictate the outcome.

Peru

Peru’s Brewing Migration Storm

As Peru’s deeply unpopular Congress erodes democracy, its citizens are increasingly voting with their feet. Washington can prevent a bigger outflow.

Podcast

AQ Podcast | The Shifting Sands of Organized Crime in Latin America

An overview of how homicide and other crimes are evolving in the region

Brazil

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrives to attend the CELAC Summit in Buccament Bay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in March.
Lula’s Unforced Errors Are Taking a Toll on the World’s Goodwill

Brazil’s president has restored his country’s international reputation, but his provocative gestures are bedeviling progress on his top goals.

Colombia

Petro’s Environmental Record Is Full of Contradictions

As this October’s COP16 summit approaches, is Colombia ready to set real commitments to protect biodiversity?

Podcast

AQ Podcast | Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum’s Election to Lose?

Despite Sheinbaum’s advantage, there are still many unanswered questions about Mexico’s June 2 elections.

Guatemala

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo will visit the White House on March 25. President Arévalo seeks to reinsert his country into the global stage, and his first U.S. trip may set the tone for the nascent administration.
Guatemala’s New Foreign Policy May Start with the U.S.

President Arévalo seeks to reinsert his country into the global stage, and his first U.S. trip may set the tone for the nascent administration.

Argentina

Argentine President Javier Milei speaks to lawmakers during the opening session of Congress on March 1.
Milei’s Narrow Path to Success

After several months in office, Argentina’s president faces mounting political and economic challenges, though his reform agenda is still alive.

Ecuador

Ecuadorian soldiers carry out an anti-gang operation in Guayaquil on Feb. 5.
Ecuador’s War on Drug Gangs: A Mixed Picture So Far

President Noboa has deployed more than 30,000 soldiers and policemen to contain the chaos. While homicides have fallen, kidnappings and extortion remain high.

Honduras

Former President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted of corruption and drug trafficking in the U.S. But in Honduras, anti-corruption efforts are moving slowly, including the CICIH UN commission.
Honduras’ Anti-Corruption Push Has Stalled

Despite former President Juan Orlando Hernández’s conviction in the U.S., progress on corruption in his country has been slow as a UN commission hangs in the balance.

Podcast

AQ Podcast | South-South Ties: Hype And Reality

Latin American leaders are making south-south ties a main focus of their foreign policy. What does that mean in practice for business, trade and diplomacy?

Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado speaks to supporters during a demonstration in Caracas in Jan. 2024. Infringing the Barbados Accord, Maduro’s regime is choosing to live in poverty. The opposition faces a difficult decision of its own.
Venezuela’s Opposition Should Draw Inspiration From an Unlikely Figure

Will María Corina Machado and regime opponents name a proxy candidate to outsmart a dictator desperately trying to stay in power?

Dominican Republic

Letter to the Editor: Lawfare in the Dominican Republic Deserves Attention

A response from AQ’s readers

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