“Algunos pueden pensar que después de la tormenta vino la calma que estamos viendo. El problema es que después de la calma…también puede venir otra tormenta.”

The US has few tools remaining to change the behavior of the Nicaraguan regime, but restrictions on weapons sales is one way to express disapproval of the country’s appalling human rights record, I told Voice of America Voz de América.

vozdeamerica.com/a/panorama-de-…

24 countries in Latin America have reported cases of dengue, for a total of 4.8 million cases this year, more than in all of 2023. The severe outbreak reflects an underappreciated impact of climate change, as warming increases the population of mosquitos that carry the virus.

“Los pasajes de las líneas Sarmiento, Roca, Mitre, San Martín, Belgrano Sur, Belgrano Norte, Urquiza y Tren de la Costa, aumentan un 53%”.

In our latest Semanita, we look at Haiti’s 🇭🇹 Transitional Council, the Mexico 🇲🇽-Ecuador 🇪🇨 diplomatic row, and the state of Argentina’s 🇦🇷 economic reforms.

Subscribe here,
engage.wilsoncenter.org/a/weekly-asado

The Wilson Center Latin America Program

In his first official visit to Washington as the head of ECLAC, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, JoseMSalazarX_CEPAL will discuss nearshoring, the energy transition, and other drivers of regional growth. Join us online!

wilsoncenter.org/event/no-more-…

“Latin American countries appear to radically shift their international positions with every election, as Colombia did in electing Petro and Argentina did in electing Milei. Brazil, too, has fallen into this trap.”

Good to see Secretary Antony Blinken is headed to Central America.

Signals recognition of Latin America’s importance, even amid wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Shows continued support for President Bernardo Arévalo and Guatemala’s promising, but highly uncertain, “primavera democrática.”

“Milei is wising up to the game, giving up some campaign promises while maneuvering to secure enough other priorities to claim victory.”

apnews.com/article/argent…

Our deepest solidarity with the people of Rio Grande do Sul facing the worst climate catastrophe in state history, and possibly in Brazilian history. Storms and floods have tragically claimed at least 78 lives, displaced over 95,000 people, and left at least 100 missing. We stand…

Migration through Panama is “just one of many challenges that the new president will face,” I told the BBC News (World). For example, analysts say the sudden closure last year of the Cobre Panama mine could cost the country as much as *$10 billion* in an eventual arbitral award.

Distinct models of budget management in the Río de la Plata 🧉:

🇦🇷 Political budget cycle-driven startling rise in spending prior to 2023 election

🇺🇾 Fiscal rule honored 4 years in a row despite severe drought and hit to consumer spending due to “deme dos” bargains in Argentina

Panama’s president-elect rode Ricardo Martinelli’s coattails to the presidency, but José Raúl Mulino is hardly an empty suit. He is seen as a skilled administrator and his acceptance speech had a pragmatic and non-polarizing tone.

President-elect Mulino insists he is a “títere de nadie”, but he owes his presidency to Ricardo Martinelli, who has been sanctioned by the US for “significant corruption.” It is a complicated diplomatic challenge for the US in a strategic country.

Migration through the Darién Gap is “just one of many challenges that the new president will face,” I told BBC News (World) Newsday. Panama “recently lost its coveted investment grade rating,” the canal is struggling with chronic drought, and there is a climate of hair-trigger anger.

Ricardo Martinelli has navigated scandal after scandal since leaving office, but many Panamanians, with rosy memories of his presidency, have always given him the benefit of the doubt, I told BBC News (World) Newsday. On Sunday, his “designated successor” easily won Panama’s election.