Regions in focus
Brazil
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.
Caribbean
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
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
Mexico is the United States’ number one trading partner in 2019. 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.
Northern Triangle
An unprecedented wave of irregular migration in Central America has brought renewed US and international attention on the Northern Triangle countries – Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. 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.
Venezuela
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.
COVID-19 in Latin America
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
A conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Chairman of CARICOM Keith Rowley
Online Event AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – A conversation with the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. the Honorable Keith Rowley, on “Re-Setting US-Caribbean Relations.”
10:00am Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus Economy & Business International Organizations
Thu, Feb 11, 2021
Spotlight: 10 Questions for Latin America and the Caribbean
As February begins, we can now look ahead to the rest of the year with our annual predictions of what may or may not transpire in this unpredictable world.
Spotlight by Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Thu, Dec 10, 2020
Gender equality can accelerate Latin America’s post-COVID-19 recovery: Men and boys must take part
In Latin America and the Caribbean, this year’s Human Rights Day marks a grim trend as COVID-19 sets back decades of progress for women and girls. And without enlisting everyone, including men, in the fight for women’s empowerment, society’s ability to achieve gender equality is limited.
New Atlanticist by Valentina Sader, Cristina Guevara
Mon, Dec 7, 2020
Remittances show promise in the face of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic
With a projected 9 percent contraction in regional gross domestic product (GDP) for this year, experts fear that the heightened economic uncertainty and lower foreign demand brought on by the health crisis might signify yet another lost decade for Latin America. There is one factor, however, that paints a particularly promising picture for the outlook of the region: remittances.
New Atlanticist by Gabriella Cova
Fri, Dec 4, 2020
Moving Beyond COVID-19: Vaccines and Other Policy Considerations in Latin America
Download the Report Introduction Parts of Latin America and the Caribbean have become COVID-19 hot spots. With 8 percent of the world’s population, the region accounts for nearly one-third of all COVID-19 infections and deaths as of late November.1Author’s calculations. Source: Johns Hopkins University. 2020. “COVID-19 Dashboard.” Coronavirus Resource Center. Accessed November 23, 2020. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html. […]
Issue Brief by Pepe Zhang
Fri, Dec 4, 2020
Boats over troubled waters: Caribbean nations struggle with response to Venezuelan migration crisis
Given the small territory and population size of these island nations, the flow of migrants is disproportionately impacting their societies, and it is testing the weight of their institutions and resources, while also enhancing domestic issues like inequality and poverty.
New Atlanticist by Angela Chávez Keri and Beatriz Godoy Rivas
Thu, Dec 3, 2020
A budget roils a nation. What’s happening in Guatemala?
The Guatemalan Congress went up in smoke, literally, on November 21, when massive protests broke out against a draft budget that was negotiated behind closed doors, with limited input from civil society, and that proposed cuts in funding for COVID-19 and human rights agencies as the country battles the virus, unemployment, and corruption.
New Atlanticist by Maria Fernanda Bozmoski
Mon, Nov 23, 2020
Latin America and the Caribbean’s COVID-19 recovery: A conversation with IDB President Mauricio Claver-Carone
Online Event AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – As the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will play a critical role in enabling recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean. What actions can the Bank take to maximize its impact?
5:00pm Coronavirus International Financial Institutions Latin America Macroeconomics
Thu, Nov 12, 2020
Complex identities: Kamala Harris and US foreign policy towards the Caribbean
Due to both her experience and her story, Kamala Devi Harris, alongside President-elect Joe Biden, provides an important new symbol of what the United States stands for in the world and could usher in a new era for US-Caribbean relations.
New Atlanticist by Vicki Assevero
Tue, Nov 24, 2020
Thriving amid COVID-19: Illicit trade in Latin America and the Caribbean
Online Event A timely conversation on illicit trade in Latin America and the Caribbean amid COVID-19.
Geopolitical implications of coronavirus
As the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak continues to accelerate its spread worldwide, the international community is facing a global crisis with public health, geopolitical, and economic repercussions. Go beyond the headlines to access the Atlantic Council’s deep expertise in policy areas impacted by this growing global emergency.
Read MoreHighlight: Energy in the Americas
A new energy strategy for the Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere is full of potential and we have the opportunity to galvanize it into an energy powerhouse. This new US energy strategy for the Western Hemisphere will help raise the global competitiveness of the hemisphere, advance its shared prosperity, and improve national and energy security as a result.
Read MoreExplore the NATO 20/2020 podcast series
NATO 20/2020 Podcast
NATO 20/2020 is a weekly podcast that explores 20 bold ideas to push NATO to be more visionary, more capable, and more self-evidently valuable to the security of more people.
Read MoreExperts
Joseph T. Bonivel Jr., PhD
Nonresident Senior Fellow
Thomas P. Bossert
Distinguished Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Maria Fernanda Bozmoski
Deputy Director, Programs
Content
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Why Ukraine sanctioned Putin’s ally Medvedchuk
Ukraine has introduced a number of measures during February 2021 to restrict the influence of Vladimir Putin's closest Ukrainian ally, Viktor Medvedchuk.
UkraineAlert by Andriy Yermak
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Atlantic Council’s Caribbean Initiative hosts Prime Minister Keith Rowley to officially launch programming
The Caribbean Initiative will sharpen focus on the region’s strategic importance as a key US partner and bring increased recognition to the importance of the Caribbean amid vast hemispheric challenges
Press Release
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Ashford on the Brussels Sprouts podcast
On February 26, Emma Ashford joined Thomas Wright, Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the future of America’s democracy promotion efforts abroad and what the US government can do to preserve American democracy at home. More about our expert
In the News by Atlantic Council
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Borghard at T20: Cyber threats to global financial stability
On February 9, Erica Borghard participated in the first full meeting of Task Force 4: Digital Transformation for the Think20 (T20). The T20 is the official engagement group of the G20, bringing together leading think tanks and research center worldwide. At the meeting, Borghard presented her policy brief on cyber threats to global financial stability. […]
In the News by Atlantic Council
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Ashford cited on the Un-Diplomatic Podcast episode about U.S. grand strategy
On February 10, Emma Ashford’s work on grand strategy was cited by University of Wellington professor Van Jackson on the Un-Diplomatic Podcast. “This week we’ve got an article from Inkstick Media by Sahar Khan called After the Apocalypse: US Grand Strategy. It starts with the question, does the US grand strategy need reboot? Emma Ashford, […]
In the News by Atlantic Council
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Preble quoted in Breaking Defense: No Growth, No Big Cuts Likely For First Biden Defense Budget
On February 23, Christopher Preble was quoted in the article, “No Growth, No Big Cuts Likely For First Biden Defense Budget.” Preble makes the point that, due to competing visions of the Pentagon budget, the amount spent on defense is likely to remain about where it currently is. “You can’t obtain serious and durable cuts […]
In the News by Atlantic Council
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Ashford in Inkstick: It’s time to leave Afghanistan
On February 26, Emma Ashford published an opinion piece on the future of U.S. presence in Afghanistan in Inkstick. “It’s not often that President Donald Trump made life better for his successor. But Afghanistan may be the rare exception. After a twenty-year war, the Trump administration’s deal with the Taliban offers the opportunity for removal […]
In the News by Atlantic Council
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
How to deploy economic tools against Putin’s aggression
Life doesn’t wait for any administration—and neither will Putin. Here's how the US government can deploy sanctions and other tools of economic statecraft as part of a broader Russia policy.
New Atlanticist by Brian O’Toole, Daniel Fried
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
FAST THINKING: Biden’s first bombing
What does the strike signal about Joe Biden’s simultaneous efforts to re-engage Iran in talks to revive their nuclear deal? And what does it suggest about how the president will approach military action and the American presence in the Middle East?
Fast Thinking by Atlantic Council
Thu, Feb 25, 2021
Hasik quoted in the Mandarin on Australian government
On February 18, FD NRSF James Hasik was quoted in a piece titled “Opinion: The triumph of the lobbies – Australia’s revolving door and democracy.” Hasik commented on the push by some Democratic leaders in the US Congress to limit connections between the defense industry and government, claiming it would stifle innovation in the Pentagon and lend itself to “miscommunication” between defence contractors and the government. “And whatever these two legislators’ indignation about occasional abuses, building barriers between suppliers and customers is frankly no way to do business”.
In the News by Atlantic Council
Events
Fri, Mar 5, 2021
What should Biden do about Ukraine?
Online Event Now that President Joe Biden has taken office, he has a real chance to move past the difficult detour that US-Ukraine relations took under his predecessor. A new issue brief lays out a plan for how the Biden team can repair relations with Ukraine.
10:00am Fiscal and Structural Reform Geopolitics & Energy Security International Financial Institutions Political Reform
Thu, Mar 4, 2021
A conversation with YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki
Online Event AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki discusses disinformation and the future of internet policy.
1:00pm Disinformation Extremism Technology & Innovation United States and Canada
Fri, Mar 5, 2021
Driving forest conservation at scale: Architecture for REDD+ transactions
Online Event The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center hosts a virtual event to discuss the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART), a Paris Agreement-aligned platform that aims to redirect large-scale private finance to jurisdictional-scale REDD+ programs.
12:00pm Africa Americas Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance