Americas Quarterly's New Issue: What Lula Means for Latin America's Role in the World

New York, April 25, 2023—“Love him or not, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s return is a watershed moment not just for Brazil, but Latin America as a whole,” write Americas Quarterly (AQ) editors in the magazine’s new issue, centering on Brazil’s President Lula and what his leadership means for Latin America's role in the world. “Lula’s legendary charm, and underestimated knowledge of policy, are welcome assets for Brazil and the region. If deployed the right way, and perhaps a bit closer to home, the face of Latin America’s golden decade could help usher in a new era of relevance and growth.”

In the new issue’s cover story, Oliver Stuenkel writes that Lula is “the region’s only diplomatic heavy hitter and the most globally visible Latin American leader of his generation." Stuenkel discusses what Lula's leadership could mean for certain regional and global priorities, including management of the Amazon, navigating the U.S.-China rivalry, and opportunities for more trade and investment within Latin America itself. Brian Winter interviews Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on relationships with China and the United States, the need for multilateral reform, and more. Emilie Sweigart presents a foreign policy snapshot, tracking priorities in external relations in eight countries, including positions on Venezuela, the United States, and China, and provides key indicators related to trade, climate, and infrastructure. Olga Pellicer analyzes how Mexico’s economy—the second-largest in the region—turned inward due to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s reluctance to focus on foreign relations. Susan Segal discusses Lula's unique position to lead the region.