Argentina: On 25 September Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri said that there were zero chances of Argentina defaulting on its external debts thanks to the support that his government has been receiving from other countries, especially the US. This international support allowed the Macri government to secure a record high US$50bn Stand-By Agreement with International Monetary Fund (IMF) back in June, which has helped to stabilise the run against the Argentine peso. Macri was speaking in an interview with Bloomberg during his visit to New York City to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). When questioned about the still weak peso, Macri explained that his government is working with the IMF to put forward a plan that will restore confidence in the Argentine economy. Macri’s remarks were backed by US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, who met with Argentina’s foreign minister, Jorge Faurie, on the side lines of the UNGA on 26 September, and reaffirmed “the US’s strong support for Argentina’s economic reforms”.
Cuba: On 24 September Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel met with leading US technology companies in New York City, where he was attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). According to the Cuban foreign ministry’s twitter account, President Díaz-Canel visited Google’s headquarters in New York City, where he spoke with technology experts on the development of high technologies, their role in developing countries, and the obstacles in using these technologies in an increasingly unequal world. Among those present were the executives from Google, VaynnerMedia, Connectify, Mapbox, Virgin Group, AirBnB, Twitter, Microsoft, Bloomberg, and Cresta. President Díaz-Canel was accompanied by his foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez; his foreign trade & investment minister, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz; and his communications minister, Jorge Luis Perdomo. According Cuba’s foreign ministry, Díaz-Canel highlighted that the computerisation of society is a priority for the Cuban government. He also underscored that the main challenge to this is the US embargo on Cuba, which prevents the country from reaching its maximum potential.
Ecuador: On 20 September, Ecuador’s President Lenín Moreno spoke in a telephone call with US Vice President Mike Pence about cooperating in order to combat drug trafficking and organised crime, and the crisis in Venezuela. According to Ecuador’s national communications secretariat, since January the Ecuadorean authorities have seized 63 tonnes (t) of narcotics valued at US$4.4bn. The communiqué claims that Pence said that he admires the “leadership” and “determination” of Ecuador’s president in his management of the country. Back in April, Ecuador signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Cooperation Agreement with the US to increase action against organised crime. These agreements came in the wake of the increasingly unstable situation on Ecuador’s border with Colombia, where there has been a recent spate of kidnappings by dissident groups from the demobilised Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) guerrillas. The press release also mentions a maritime reconnaissance and surveillance programme which, with the help of a US aircraft, resulted in the capture of a boat carrying 1t of cocaine hydrochloride. In an official statement issued on 20 September the White House also expressed support for Ecuador's economic reform agenda, noting the important progress already underway to cut government spending and promote transparency, and it encouraged the continuation of these efforts. The US also mentioned discussion of efforts to resolve the crisis in Venezuela, praising the steps taken by Moreno to isolate the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
Mexico: On 26 September US Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that a man from Anchorage, Alaska, had been extradited from Mexico back to the US to face charges filed against him in 2011 for stealing approximately US$4.3m belonging to KeyBank. According to a US justice department press releasee, Gerardo Adán ‘Gary’ Cázarez Valenzuela, was named in the 2011 superseding indictment charging him with theft of bank funds. Cázarez has been extradited from Mexico and had his initial appearance in a trial in Anchorage on 27 September. According to charging documents, on or about 29 July 2011, Cázarez was the Cash Vault Services Manager for KeyBank when he stole approximately US$4.3m from KeyBank in Anchorage. He then flew in a chartered jet to Washington state, bought a car, and drove to Mexico. Cázarez was arrested by the Mexican authorities on 2 August 2011, when a random search of his luggage at a checkpoint found US$3.8m in cash, firearms, and ammunition. Cázarez was charged and convicted in Mexico of criminal offenses analogous to money laundering and illegal possession of firearms for smuggling the cash and firearms into Mexico. After serving a term of imprisonment for this conviction in Mexico, Cázarez was extradited to the US to stand trial for the crimes charged in the superseding indictment. If convicted, Cázarez faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, and a fine of up to US$1m
