Latin America | Council on Foreign Relations

Venezuela

More Hostages But No More Sanctions: The Failure of Biden Administration Venezuela Policy

The arrest of a fourth American hostage by the Maduro regime in Venezuela shows the failure of Biden administration policy there. It is time to reimpose sanctions on Venezuelan oil.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams September 18, 2024 Pressure Points
Venezuela

Oil Companies, Biden Policies, and Democracy in Venezuela

The activities of U.S. and European oil companies in Venezuela are helping the Maduro regime crush democracy there, and the Biden administration should now fully reimpose U.S. sanctions.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams September 7, 2024 Pressure Points
Venezuela

Biden’s Tragic Mistake on Venezuela, Calling for a New Election Instead of Respect for the Election the Opposition Won

President Biden’s statement today that he supports a new election in Venezuela is a tragic, unforced error that compounds the previous weaknesses in supporting democracy there.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams August 15, 2024 Pressure Points

Experts in this Keyword

Will Freeman

Fellow for Latin America Studies

Steven Levitsky

Senior Fellow for Democracy

Shannon K. O'Neil

Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair

Venezuela

Carrots Need Sticks: The Biden Administration and the Case of Venezuela

The Biden administration appears to be offering Venezuelan dictator Maduro amnesty if he will leave power, but sticks as well as carrots will be needed to persuade him.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams August 13, 2024 Pressure Points
Venezuela

Venezuela: The Rise and Fall of a Petrostate

Venezuela’s ongoing descent into economic and political chaos is a cautionary tale of the dangerous influence that resource wealth can have on developing countries.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy and Amelia Cheatham July 31, 2024
Bolivia

Civilian-controlled Militaries Keep Coups Out of Latin America Plus Trump's VP Pick Signals Hawkish Latin America Policy

Civilian-controlled militaries keep coups out of Latin America; Trump’s Vance VP pick signals a Latin America policy hawkish on migration and Mexican organized crime.

Blog Post by Shannon K. O'Neil and Will Freeman July 30, 2024 Latin America’s Moment
Venezuela

Will Maduro Hold on to Power in Venezuela’s 2024 Election?

The closely watched elections on July 28 will determine whether incumbent President Nicolás Maduro wins a third term or allows a democratic transition.

Expert Brief by Shannon K. O'Neil and Julia Huesa July 16, 2024 Latin America Studies Program
Latin America

Stagnant Urban Productivity Stunts Latin America’s Economic Growth, Plus Chinese Lenders Turn Away From Latin America

Stagnant urban productivity stunts Latin America’s economic growth; Chinese lenders turn away from Latin America.

Blog Post by Shannon K. O'Neil July 10, 2024 Latin America’s Moment
Latin America

In Latin America, Your Zip Code—Not Just Your Nationality—Determines Whether You Live in a Democracy

Many big cities are doing well, but in flyover country organized crime and corruption often smother democracy.

Article by Will Freeman July 9, 2024 Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy
Immigration and Migration

Why Six Countries Account for Most Migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Photo Essay by Will Freeman , Steven Holmes and Sabine Baumgartner July 9, 2024
Venezuela

The United States and the Venezuelan Election

Every sign suggests that Venezuela's presidential election on July 28 will be stolen. Will the Biden administration then acknowledge that its policy toward Venezuela has failed--and change it?

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams July 6, 2024 Pressure Points
Daily News Brief

Beryl Smashes Records as it Roars Through Caribbean, and Other Headlines of the Day

The Daily News Brief

Article by CFR.org Editors July 3, 2024
Haiti

Haiti’s Troubled Path to Development

Hobbled by foreign interventions, political instability, and natural disasters, the former French colony is paralyzed by multiple crises.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy and Rocio Cara Labrador June 25, 2024
Latin America

Latin America’s Big Opportunity

Over the last three decades, economic growth in Central Europe, East and Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa has outpaced growth in Latin America, where most economies have actually become less sophisticated and diversified. But now, current global trends are creating an opportunity for a long-delayed takeoff.

Article by Shannon K. O'Neil June 12, 2024 Latin America Studies Program
United States

Seeking Protection: How the U.S. Asylum Process Works

Record numbers of migrants seeking to cross the southern U.S. border are challenging the Joe Biden administration’s attempts to restore asylum protections. Here’s how the asylum process works.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy June 4, 2024 Renewing America