Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Since the turn of the century, reforms in Brazil have lifted nearly thirty million citizens out of poverty and targeted social inequality. A champion of regional growth and an influential actor in world politics, Brazil’s future is tied to continued efforts to revitalize its economy and its role on the global stage.

The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center’s Caribbean Initiative seeks to accelerate the region’s strategic importance as a key partner for the United States. Announced in September 2020, this initiative brings increased recognition to the importance of the Caribbean amid vast hemispheric and global challenges. Establishment of the Caribbean program comes at an historic, defining moment for the region as it battles the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Colombia and the United States have consolidated a close and mutually-beneficial partnership over the past twenty years. Plan Colombia, a bipartisan foreign policy success, laid the foundation for a strategic alliance that has widened to include sustainable development, trade, hemispheric security, and human rights. Today, Colombia is positioning itself as a leader in the region and the world.

Mexico is one of the United States’ top trading partners. The relationship is special. Although ties between the two countries are solid, our partnership today faces important challenges, including rapidly changing political landscapes, shifting economic winds, shared security threats, and a migration crisis extending from Central America.

An unprecedented wave of irregular migration has brought renewed US and international attention to Central America. Rampant corruption, violence, and lack of economic opportunities have forced thousands to flee in search of a better future. As a new political landscape emerges in the region, the challenge remains: improving the living conditions for citizens. US support is critical to address that challenge.

Once a thriving democracy, Venezuela today is in one of its darkest times in history. Years of economic mismanagement, cronyism, and democratic erosion, further fueled by hyperinflation, power cuts, and shortages of food and medicine, have triggered a humanitarian and migration crisis with reverberations across Latin America and beyond. A peaceful democratic transition will remain as the top priority – and the first step – toward a more prosperous future for Venezuelans and the hemisphere.

A conversation on the socioeconomic implications of COVID-19 and the role of international financial institutions in pandemic economic recovery with Paulo Guedes, Brazil’s Minister of the Economy.

Secretary Ramírez de la O assumed his position in August 2021 with a focus on fiscal balance, government austerity, PEMEX finances, and an inclusive economic vision. A recently-stated priority for 2022 is consolidating economic growth that allows the country to move on from pandemic-related challenges.

How can negotiations effectively incorporate the voices and perspectives of Venezuelan women? How might women’s participation in democratic dialogues shape the short- and long-term future of Venezuela? And how can these changes be cemented?

Despite recent reduction in COVID-19 cases and deaths, the region remains a global hotspot with potential health and economic implications for the Western Hemisphere and beyond.

A celebration of Central America’s bicentennial and a conversation on the future of the region and regional integration.

What are the lessons learned from Iraq’s humanitarian program that are applicable to Venezuela? How can the role of the US and the international community in the Iraq experience be applied to present-day Venezuela?