Foreign Relations

Mr. President-elect, your inauguration in January 2009 brings hope to Latin America and the Caribbean for a closer and improved relationship within the hemisphere. Unfortunately, many citizens of our region, including leaders and analysts, share the view that the prosperity of the Americas is not a high priority for the U.S. Read the full article in the Fall 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.

United States policies toward the region have oscillated between activism and aloofness. In both cases, the perception of U.S. attitudes has given rise to criticism in Latin America and the Caribbean. Read the full article in the Fall 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.

Writing in the Financial Times, President and CEO of Citibank and AS/COA Board Chair William R. Rhodes warns that "we are seeing the full force of the storms of this interconnected financial system." He urges the International Monetary Fund to play a leadership role to shelter emerging markets.

As violent clashes die down in Bolivia, concern remains over deep political differences between supporters and opponents of President Evo Morales. Meanwhile, the unrest coincided with a diplomatic tit-for-tat involving Bolivia and Venezuela against the United States.

The arrival of Russian warplanes in Venezuela and plans for joint naval operations in the Caribbean raise eyebrows at a time of strained relations between Washington and Moscow. But the use of ships and aircraft dating from the Cold War may lessen potential threats.

At a COA-hosted public program, World Bank Private and Financial Sector Vice President Sylvia Solf presented the findings of Doing Business 2009, the sixth in a series of annual reports comparing business regulations in 181 countries. View Solf's presentation.

In a new article for Poder, COA's Eric Farnsworth writes that with deteriorating relations in the hemisphere, a high priority for the next president should be restoring the special envoy for the Americas, a key part of U.S. foreign diplomacy.