The president’s message was well received in Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador but his regional speech may have fallen on deaf ears outside those countries.

Fifty years after after John F. Kennedy unveiled the “Alliance for Progress,” U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a speech in Santiago stressing regional cooperation and announcing new innovation and education initiatives.

The Japanese nuclear crisis cast its shadow over a U.S.-Chilean energy agreement signed days before President Barack Obama’s arrival in Santiago. How will Latin American countries move forward with nuclear energy ambitions?

"The United States faces a new moment in the Americas: no longer can we take economic partnership or political influence for granted," writes COA's Eric Farnsworth for The Huffington Post.

"A successful trip could be measured as one in which Obama and the leaders of the visited countries better understand the shared vision before us," writes AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal in an article about President Barack Obama's March 19-23 trip.

With President Obama set to commence a five-day, Latin American tour on March 19, AS/COA offers coverage and analysis to shine a light on priorities for his first presidential visit to Central and South America.

In March 2011, President Barack Obama will visit Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador. COA and The Heritage Foundation held a panel discussion with ambassadors from host countries to preview the president’s trip. Watch COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth's remarks.