Latin America Archives

U.S. Government Makes Claim for Venezuelan Oil And Sovereignty

8Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Geopolitics, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

U.S. Government Makes Claim for Venezuelan Oil And Sovereignty

Trump announces historic deal and claims Venezuelan oil. September 8, 2026—When the U.S. government announced an historic deal for tapping Venezuelan oil in August, the White House cheered it as a means to expand U.S. oil reserves while critics complained the deal smacked of 19th Century imperialism. The United States has long engaged with Venezuelan politics, aiming to push the country away from a communist economy towards an open, democratic society. What is clear today is that U.S. policy has shifted away from influencing Venezuelan politics toward a model of ownership, not only of the country’s natural resources but also its diplomatic standing with the rest of the world. The circumstances of the invasion and capture of natural resources leave observers questioning the legalit...

Latin American Politics: Another Country Shifts Left

29Jun

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Videos

Latin American Politics: Another Country Shifts Left

Columbia Elects Gustavo Petro As Next President, Marking A Significant Shift In The Status Quo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hLUn0rdhsM On June 19, Columbia completed its presidential election, and a man named Gustavo Petro won decidedly. It marks the first time the country elected a left-wing politician. Petro says he'll bring in a new "capitalism" and at the same time "redistribute the economy." Furthermore, he is a former guerilla fighter in the M-19 militant movement. What kind of Left will Petro represent? Will he strengthen the communist countries of Venezuela and Cuba and the dictatorship in Nicaragua? Or will he represent a populist Left that is ultimately accountable to the people? The shift in the political pendulum will likely present challenges to the United St...

Peru’s Protests Put Its President In An Uncomfortable Spot

13Apr

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

Peru’s Protests Put Its President In An Uncomfortable Spot

Economic Impact of War And Sanctions Reaches Far And Wide April 13, 2022—Pedro Castillo won a very close election last year as the left-wing option to Keiko Fujimori, the right-wing daughter of a dictator. It's been a rough ride for President Castillo with multiple crises taking place and government ministers changing frequently. But all that turmoil grew worse in the last few weeks. Castillo now finds himself in a position where you can usually find right-wing leaders: Fending off a protest movement started by transport syndicates. The last few weeks in Peru have seen the people take the streets and even call for a countrywide strike. What started with a protest against the rise in oil price by truckers escalated to more and more sectors of society. In some places, it turned violent...

The Weird History of the Venezuela-Colombia Relationship Under Chavismo

28Feb

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Diplomacy, Immigration, Migration, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

The Weird History of the Venezuela-Colombia Relationship Under Chavismo

Photo of Colombia-Venezuela border by El Espectador. By Ernesto Rodriguez February 28, 2022—Neighbors can be a complex issue in international politics. While having an economic and political ally next door can be beneficial—after all, that’s the whole conceit of the European Union—it doesn’t always work that way. When you have a neighbor that has significant political differences or is even an open enemy, it can be catastrophic. Just ask Ukraine. In South America, relations between Colombia and Venezuela are quite complicated. They have been difficult and complex since Hugo Chávez-led Chavismo, a radical left-wing ideology, came to power in the late 1990s. A Shared History And Culture The two countries share a 2,219-km (1,379-mile) border, a common language and many si...

Latin America: What’s Ahead in 2022 & What Happened in 2021

14Jan

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, Democracy, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

Latin America: What’s Ahead in 2022 & What Happened in 2021

By Ernesto Rodriguez Welcome to pandemic year three! So 2021 wasn't really what everyone wanted it to be: A year where human ingenuity and science beat a pandemic, letting everybody go back to normal. Not quite. That being said, there was something that felt more normal: Politics. Or, at least in the case of Latin American politics, it was as normal as politics ever gets. A Marked Shift Left The region dealt with the aftermath of unrest that’s happened in the last few years. And political observers saw a marked shift to left-leaning or far-left leaders taking power. That includes Peru's Pedro Castillo and Chile's Gabriel Boric winning their respective elections. It's a trend that could continue this year, with Lula Da Silva being the favorite to win the Brazilian election next Oct...

31Dec

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

PROFILE: Gabriel Boric, Who He Is And Why He Matters

"We are a generation that emerged in public life demanding our rights be respected as rights and not treated like consumer goods or a business," Gabriel Boric said after winning the Chilean presidency on December 19, 2021 with 56 percent of the vote. Chile's New Leader Brings A New Kind Of Left To Latin America December 31, 2021--By this point, talking about controversial leaders in Latin America might be a cliché in itself. But still, almost every election in the region has at least one person that can raise a few eyebrows. Chile had two: Pinochet defender José Antonio Kast and Gabriel Boric, the far-left leader, and elected president. Boric is an interesting leader. For one, he is the youngest president to rule the Andean* country. Also, at age 35, he is the first president to b...

After Venezuelan Elections, Those Who Wanted Change Look For New Strategy

10Dec

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, Types of News: Analysis

After Venezuelan Elections, Those Who Wanted Change Look For New Strategy

Editor's Note: The elections this Fall in Venezuela marked the first time in four years the opposition took part. The Opposition represents the interim government led by Juan Guaidó, who is recognized by the United States and 50 other countries as the rightful leader of the country in the aftermath of the 2018 fraudulent election. The opposition boycotted the 2018 and 2020 elections. But with recent talks between the opposition and the government in Mexico, they are engaging more in politics For many of the nearly 6 million expats who left the country in the wake of political and economic crises since 2015, the hope is for a new government and a better life for the Venezuelans left behind. Ernesto Rodriguez, one of those expats, analysizes the outlook for that in the essay below. By ...

Ahead Of Honduras Critical Election, Political Violence Emerges

26Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Ahead Of Honduras Critical Election, Political Violence Emerges

U.S. And China Vie For Influence In Honduras As Taiwan Arises As An Issue November 26, 2021—Ahead of Sunday's election in Honduras, the people face a critical choice between a corrupt status quo and an alternative that may bring in a left-wing and perhaps "communist" agenda. The election has implications for Central America and beyond. The battle is between the conservative National Party, in power since a 2009 coup and run by a corrupt leader, versus the left-wing Libre Party. The Libre Party candidate Xiomara Castro is leading in the polls. If she wins, she's expected to usher in change. Story Update: Libre Party candidate Xiomara Castro, 62, won the election after running on an anti-corruption platform. She replaces President Juan Orlando Hernández as the country's top lea...

2Oct

By Ernesto RodriguezNo Comments

Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Types of News: Analysis

PROFILE: Central America’s ‘Cool’ Millennial Dictator

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele. Source: Instagram El Salvador's Nayib Bukele Went From Being A Fresh Face In Central America To A 'Cool' Dictator October 2, 2021—For many El Salvadorians, Nayib Bukele seemed like a new hope when he won the presidency in 2019. He was a young guy, just 38 years old when he won the presidency. With a career as mayor of San Salvador, the country’s capital, his entrance to the political stage looked like the start of a brand-new generation of Central American and Latin American politicians. A Talented Publicist Prior to launching a career in politics, Bukele had already gained a reputation as a talented publicist in the capital city. An El Salvadorian of Palestinian descent, he merged skills in business and marketing well. He owned a nightclu...

El Salvador’s Volcano-Powered Bitcoin Goes On Display

29Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Types of News: Brief

El Salvador’s Volcano-Powered Bitcoin Goes On Display

September 29, 2021—Just a few weeks into its experience of using Bitcoin as its national currency, El Salvador, under the leadership of its entrepreneurial leader, is employing the use of its volcano to mine the cryptocurrency. President Nayib Bukele released a video today showing a state-owned geothermal facility on the side of El Salvador's volcano with Bitcoin mining machines. He introduced it on Twitter, saying "First steps." https://youtu.be/Y-S-oa3Rp8I The state-owned facility, LaGeo, is a subsidiary of the Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa. Bitcoin mining involves solving complex math problems with blockchain technology through high-powered computers. A study by the University of Cambridge suggests that Bitcoin mining consumes 121.36 terawatt hours ...