Americas Quarterly's New Issue: What the U.S. Election Means for Latin America

New York, July 16, 2024 — "Immigration, drug trafficking, nearshoring, and infrastructure investment are all important issues in this election—and they all touch on Latin America," write Americas Quarterly (AQ) editors in the magazine’s latest issue, which delves into the significant impact that four more years of either President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump could have on Latin America and the Caribbean. In this special issue, authors with firsthand experience in the Biden and Trump administrations offer their perspectives on what a second term for both candidates might entail for the region.

Mauricio Claver-Carone, a former top White House official for Latin America under Donald Trump and president of the Inter-American Development Bank from 2020 until 2022, presents a compelling argument on the "inextricable link between U.S. national security and mutual economic growth." He critiques the Biden administration for its perceived lack of focus on nearshoring opportunities in the Western Hemisphere. Claver-Carone advocates for a revival of the economic development program "América Crece," emphasizing the importance of high-growth smaller countries in the region while cautioning against trade deals with China.

The opposing view is written by two former National Security Council officials and founding partners of the advisory firm Dinámica Américas, Ricardo Zúñiga and Nicholas Zimmerman. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of Biden's efforts to restore the United States' leadership and trust in Latin America, including defending democracy in Brazil and Guatemala, as well as combating organized crime. Zúñiga and Zimmerman contrast Biden's efforts to Trump's, since they argue, Trump undermined Washington's standing and "empowered populists" in the region. The authors emphasize that Biden's groundwork lays a foundation for durable solutions to ongoing challenges if he secures another term.

AQ also includes the perspectives of different voices of Latin America on the question: What is the single most important Latin America-related issue the next U.S. president should focus on, regardless of who wins?

Former President of Colombia Iván Duque believes the most important issue is sustainable growth and reduction in social gaps in the entire region. Meanwhile, former Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister of Panama Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado advocates for the next president to address lack of opportunities in the region. And Samuel Pérez, who served in Guatemala’s Congress, believes the most important issue revolves around countering authoritarian groups that are infiltrating public institutions in the region.

Susan Segal argues that regardless of who wins the U.S. election, the next administration should strengthen its ties with Latin America and the Caribbean to foster mutual economic prosperity, security, and democracy.

Also in this issue:

• Rich Brown and Emilie Sweigart track major moments in U.S.-Latin America relations under Trump and Biden administrations with detailed timelines.
• Robert Muggah and Katherine Aguirre lay out data on the region’s murder rates, which show signs of progress in some cities but cause for concern in others.
• The Long View: Carlos A. Pérez Ricart writes about a 1940s reform in Mexico that sought to treat drug addiction with regulated dispensaries until it was stopped due to pressure from the United States.

The full issue is available at americasquarterly.org.

View the PDF.

To request interviews with the authors, or to request publication permission, please contact AS/COA Media Relations department at mediarelations@as-coa.org