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AQ Podcast | Gustavo Petro: The Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality
At the halfway point of his presidency, Petro is still trying to deliver on his vision for a more equal and secure Colombia, while also dealing with a difficult economic climate. What can we expect from his next two years in office?
![U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco in May.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AQ0324_LONGVIEW-300x183.jpg)
U.S. Cybersecurity Diplomacy Is Helping Counter China
A year after AQ’s special report on cybersecurity in Latin America, U.S. aid and collaboration are making some headway.
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AQ Podcast | The Bukele Model: Why It’s Hard to Replicate
In a region plagued by crime, some politicians are eager to replicate El Salvador’s gang crackdown. Can the model spread?
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In Latin America, the U.S. Is Relying Too Much on its Military
SouthCom has become the most visible bridge for political engagement in the region. That’s a mistake, the authors write.
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Despite a Grim Today, Prosperity Is Still Possible in Haiti
After years of dire events, a new transition offers a window to lay plans for societal success.
![Soldiers help villagers at an emergency shelter on June 11 after violent conflict in southern Mexico.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-2156655636-300x227.jpg)
For Sheinbaum, a Security Challenge in AMLO’s Home State
Southern states like Tabasco are enduring increased criminal activity. How will Mexico’s next government tackle the pervasive presence of drug cartels?
![A soldier patrols the Ecuadorian town of Durán, Guayas Province in Sept. 2023. Latin America’s Murder Rates Reveal Surprising New Trends.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-1675017258-300x200.jpg)
Latin America’s Murder Rates Reveal Surprising New Trends
Homicide data from the region’s cities show signs of progress in some places and cause for concern in others.
![President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa arrives at Carondelet Palace in Quito.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-1730496902-300x200.jpg)
Now Empowered, Noboa Can Still Avoid Authoritarian Drift
Ecuador’s president gained a resounding endorsement for “mano dura” policies against organized crime in Sunday’s referendum. A delicate democratic balance is at stake.
![Salazar, 42, is Ecuador's first career prosecutor to ascend to the top job.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AQ0224_PROFILE-300x183.jpg)
Ecuador’s Crusading Attorney General Is Facing Her Toughest Challenge Yet
Diana Salazar’s investigations have taken down major figures. But a wave of drug-related violence is changing what defending the rule of law looks like.
![A girl walks by silhouettes of wooden women placed in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov. 25, 2023. Gender-based violence Is at the center of Mexico’s security crisis, and a recent mob attack underscores the need to recognize the gendered dimensions of violence in a critical election year.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GKSMexico-300x209.jpg)
Violence Against Women Is at the Center of Mexico’s Security Crisis
A recent mob attack underscores the need to recognize the gendered dimensions of violence in a critical election year.
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Despite Record-Low Murder Rates, Brazilians Feel Less Safe
Homicide rates have fallen steadily in recent years, but over a third of Brazil’s public believe that violence has increased since Lula took office.
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AQ Podcast | The Shifting Sands of Organized Crime in Latin America
An overview of how homicide and other crimes are evolving in the region
![Ecuadorian soldiers carry out an anti-gang operation in Guayaquil on Feb. 5.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/JIEcuador-300x200.jpg)
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.
![Latin American drug cartels are expanidng to Asia. As cocaine flows to remoter markets, transnational illicit traffic poses a global risk.](https://americasquarterly.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GettyImages-1236767347-300x200.jpg)
Why Drug Cartels Are Expanding to Asia
As cocaine flows to remoter markets, transnational illicit traffic poses a global risk.
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Ecuador Actually Has a Chance
… but the Noboa government will need more money, from allies at home and in Washington, to fight organized crime.