Weekly Report - 22 January 2026 (WR-26-03)

Significant change may be coming for Venezuela’s oil sector after legislators began debating a reform to the country’s hydrocarbon law on 22 January.... Read More

After a year of bloody fighting between rival insurgent groups in Colombia’s eastern region of Catatumbo, President Gustavo Petro is hoping for a way forward which might also help improve his volatile relationship with US President Donald Trump.... Read More

Peru’s President José Jerí appeared before the congressional oversight commission on 21 January, denying any wrongdoing in the so-called ‘Chifagate’ scandal, and claiming to be the victim of a plot to destabilise the government.... Read More

Fitch said that the upgrade “reflects easing risks of default or restructuring due to reduced political constraints on external financing, financing commitments from multilaterals, and the elimination of fuel subsidies, which should support fiscal deficit reduction and reserve accumulation”. Just four days later, however, the central bank (BCB) president, David Espinoza, revealed that the bank was saddled with major gold debts by forward sales contracts agreed under former president Luis Arce (2020-2025).... Read More

No trade agreement has had more signing ceremonies over the years than the one between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur.... Read More

Supreme court (STF) justice Alexandre de Moraes issued an order on 15 January for former president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2023), who was convicted in September for plotting a coup d’état, to be transferred from the federal police (PF) jail in Brasília to the Papuda prison complex outside of the capital.... Read More

BRAZIL | Banco Master case hits other firms and investors.... Read More

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum found herself again having to refute speculation of US military action in Mexican territory this week.... Read More

MEXICO | Grupo Carso adds to oil portfolio.... Read More

Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo has been compelled to declare a 30-day nationwide state of siege – a move which temporarily restricts or suspends some civil liberties, and allows for the deployment of the military and for authorities to detain and hold suspects without a court order.... Read More

On 14 January Haiti’s national police (PNd’H) announced that it had targeted property owned by prominent gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Chérizier in the capital Port-au-Prince.... Read More

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele paid a visit to Costa Rica this week, just ahead of presidential and legislative elections on 1 February.... Read More

Ecuador’s main opposition party, Revolución Ciudadana (RC), has appointed Gabriela Rivadeneira as its new leader at its 17-18 January annual convention in the northern port city of Manta.... Read More

“I told him that we’re ready to move quickly and effectively to achieve a transition to democracy and a long-term relationship between the US and Venezuela – a relationship that is mutually beneficial and puts people at its centre.”... Read More