President Rafael Correa marked his fifth year in office on January 15. With rising approval ratings, he’s poised to run for reelection in 2013, though he faces challenges in the year ahead.
News & Analysis
Increased Chinese investment in Latin America presents a trade policy challenge for the United States, writes AS/COA’s Christopher Sabatini for this op-ed in The Miami Herald.
During his January 14 inauguration, Otto Pérez Molina pledged to fight criminality in Guatemala and asked for regional cooperation, particularly from Washington.
AS/COA Online speaks to Jorge Luis Sierra, a Knight International Journalism Fellow who created Mi Panamá Transparente, a crowdsourcing website in Panama that uses citizens’ reports on crime and corruption to undertake journalistic investigations.
Across Latin America, innovative crowdsourcing websites are shining a light on security, health, and consumer concerns.
Jamaica’s newly elected prime minister has said she would like to see Jamaica become a republic. But does the proposal have public support?
Escaping a protracted humanitarian crisis, Haitians have begun migrating to Brazil for jobs. Furthermore, Brazil is adopting a new approach to its relations with the Caribbean country.
Iran’s president returns to the region at a time of increasing brinkmanship with Washington. His four prior visits held similar aims to expand diplomatic and economic ties with Iran’s handful of Latin American allies.
A December 29 vote unseated Jamaica’s incumbent Labor Party in an electoral loss sparked by controversy over the extradition of a drug kingpin, as well as economic concerns.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has stepped out of her predecessor’s shadow and proven herself as a leader. But what challenges lie ahead in 2012?
Following more than six months of intractable protests, Chile experienced a change in leadership of both the student movement and the education ministry.
The debate over Venezuelan membership continued to spark political wrangling at this week’s Mercosur summit. Will Mercosur's members bypass Paraguay to let Caracas in?
"To help foster important reforms in El Salvador and the region, the United States needs an ambassador in place. And we need someone there now," writes AS/COA's Jason Marczak in an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle.
The Argentine Chamber of Deputies passed a December 16 law that will limit land sales to foreigners. While the move follows regional trends, some question the feasibility of implementation. The Senate is expected to approve the law.
Haitian President Michel Martelly seeks to promote Haiti’s national sovereignty and lessen its dependence on foreign aid.
AS/COA previews major events and key players in the coming year. Crucial elections are taking place in the Americas in 2012, as well as important global summits.
"Why is a position against violence targeting homosexuals and in defense of gay rights a valid reason to reject a nominee to an ambassadorship?" asks AS/COA's Christopher Sabatini, after the Senate's rejection of Mari Carmen Aponte as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador.
When the highest court in the United States decides on the constitutionality of Arizona’s controversial immigration law next year, it could also decide the fate of similar laws in other states.
Following the resignation of Prime Minister Salomón Lerner, President Ollanta Humala announced a broader cabinet reshuffle. The move is seen as an attempt to shore up his administration following protests over mining projects.
Brazil helped lead global climate change talks in South Africa. But environmentalists warn new Brazilian legislation may spur deforestation.