Latin America Commentary & Analysis

All commentary & analysis

Event Recap

Apr 9, 2015

Mexico’s Energy Reform: Is It Still on Track?

By Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Mexico’s historic energy reforms continue to hold exciting promise for the country, achieving the requisite constitutional and implementing legislation over the last fifteen months. The global oil price climate, however, has prompted a few mid-course corrections to the rollout of the reforms. For Mexico to continue to attract excitement for its energy sector, the government […]

Energy & Environment Mexico

Article

Apr 7, 2015

Spotlight: Summit of the Americas

By Rachel DeLevie-Orey and Thomas Corrigan

In this month’s Spotlight, we ask: What will be the top headlines at the VII Summit of the Americas? The Summit of the Americas on April 10-11 is generating an unprecedented amount of attention, thanks in large part to the dramatic changes in the US-Cuba relationship. Though historic, the novelty of seeing Cuban President Raúl […]

Cuba Venezuela

New Atlanticist

Mar 26, 2015

Brazil’s Political Crisis and the Dilma Factor

By Ricardo Sennes

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is struggling with a loss of popularity and an inability to pass reforms that are critical to addressing the enormous economic challenges facing Brazil. The current political crisis is being driven by four key factors. The first is widespread discontent with the impunity and corruption of government officials, most notably those […]

Brazil

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2015

US Sanctions will Produce More Repression in Venezuela

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analysts say Maduro will further try to shift focus from economy to ‘imperialist threat’ The Obama administration’s decision to declare Venezuela a national security threat and slap sanctions on seven officials from the oil-rich nation gives President Nicolás Maduro another excuse to blame the United States for his country’s economic plight, according to […]

Venezuela

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2015

US-Cuba Round 2: Tough Talks Ahead

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analysts say both Washington and Havana have incentives to see progress The second round of talks between the United States and Cuba on February 27 will be marked by tough negotiations, but both sides have incentives to work toward a breakthrough, according to Atlantic Council analysts. “The United States wants to do a […]

Cuba

New Atlanticist

Feb 20, 2015

Under Pressure, Venezuela’s Maduro Lashes Out at Critics

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The arrest of the Mayor of Caracas is an attempt by President Nicolás Maduro’s crumbling government, which is under immense political and economic pressure to demonstrate authority, to consolidate the hardline base of the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), according to Atlantic Council analysts. Venezuela, which has suffered political turmoil since protests broke out […]

Cuba Venezuela

Press Release

Jan 29, 2015

Latin America Center Experts Comment on Lifting Cuba Travel Ban

This morning, a bipartisan group of eight senators introduced a bill that would lift the US ban on travel to Cuba. The Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center experts are closely monitoring this story. Their reactions: 

Cuba

Article

Jan 29, 2015

Spotlight Energy

By Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

What do lower oil prices mean for Latin America’s energy potential in 2015 and beyond? Read five scenarios. The decline of the global benchmark oil price from around $100 per barrel to under $50 per barrel over the last six months has jolted oil producing and consuming countries throughout the world, including in Latin America. […]

Brazil Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2015

As US, Cuba Open Talks, Congress Is Likely to Favor a Gradual ‘Chipping Away’ at Embargo

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Opposition to Easing Embargo Is Vocal But Small, Atlantic Council Analyst Says As US and Cuban officials meet in Havana this week for their first talks on normalizing relations, Congress is likely to favor moving slowly on President Obama’s request for the lifting of the United States’ five-decade-old trade embargo on Cuba, says Atlantic Council […]

Cuba

New Atlanticist

Jan 21, 2015

Rousseff Version 2.0: A New Chapter in US-Brazil Ties?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Panel Sees Hope as Brazilian President Pledges to Visit US in September Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s second term in office may present an opportunity for Washington and Brasilia to improve relations. Despite recent bumps in the road in the US-Brazil relationship, Anthony S. Harrington, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Brazil from 1999 to 2001, […]

Brazil