Latin American Security & Strategic Review
Security & Strategic Review - September 2022
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- Marking a grim anniversary in Haiti
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- ECUADOR: Bomb blast highlights changing tactics by organised crime
- REGION: Mixed picture on coca and cocaine production
- VENEZUELA: Blaming doctors for the healthcare crisis
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: An election for the Amazon
- PARAGUAY: Corruption accusations shake up politics
- CHILE: Police reform on the table
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: The consequences of Caro Quintero’s arrest
- MEXICO: Fighting fentanyl production
- MEXICO: Sinaloa DTO gaining ground in CDMX?
CENTRAL AMERICA
- GUATEMALA: Targeting another sector
- REGION: New reports highlight continued threat of food insecurity
CARIBBEAN
- ST KITTS & NEVIS: Early election gamble fails
- GUYANA: The divisions persist
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Haiti recently commemorated the first anniversary of the brutal murder of former president Jovenel Moïse (2017-2021) [SSR-21-08].
Security & Strategic Review - August 2022
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- Major changes in Colombian security policy expected under Petro
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- BOLIVIA: Áñez’s sentencing reanimates debates over judicial independence
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Threat of political violence hangs over elections
- CHILE: New constitution unlikely to solve indigenous tensions
- REGION: Brazil hosts regional meeting on transnational crime
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Seeking better representation for Mexico’s indigenous
- MEXICO: Under-resourced police forces face growing risks
- MEXICO: Rise in lynchings reflects security failings
CENTRAL AMERICA
- NICARAGUA: Closing civic space
- COSTA RICA: Government under pressure over indigenous rights
- HONDURAS: Gearing up for key appointments
- PANAMA: The fight to restore the forests
CARIBBEAN
- GRENADA: Another chance for NDC
- REGION: World Bank pushing food security agenda
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Colombia is set for major change following Gustavo Petro’s victory in the 19 June presidential run-off.
Security & Strategic Review - July 2022
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- Migration shapes Mexico’s regional relations
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: ‘Gentil Duarte’ killed in Venezuela
- PERU: Facing a food security crisis
- BOLIVIA: Morales moves against top security officials
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Transnational crime hops on the migration bandwagon
- ARGENTINA-REGION: Grounded aircraft and terrorism suspicions
- BRAZIL: Amazon murders shine a light on region’s challenges
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Green tide continues to rise
- MEXICO: Gov’t fails to fix doctor shortage
CENTRAL AMERICA
- GUATEMALA: Re-appointment of AG head fans corruption concerns
- EL SALVADOR: State of emergency extended
- REGION: Cybersecurity a problem area for Central America
CARIBBEAN
- REGION: The Caribbean makes its mark at Summit of the Americas
- REGION: Regional food security continues to concentrate the minds
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
The ninth Summit of the Americas (SoA), which took place from 6-10 June in Los Angeles, California, was marred by controversy over its guestlist.
Security & Strategic Review - June 2022
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- Murder of Paraguayan prosecutor produces shockwaves
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: JEP breaks new ground with ‘false positive’ confessions
- ECUADOR: When states of exception are no longer exceptional
- PERU: Las Bambas shutdown prompts harder stance on mining protests
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: São Paulo’s ‘crackland’ in the spotlight, again
- ARGENTINA: Crisis in the judiciary compounds violence in Rosario
- URUGUAY: Wave of violence challenges authorities
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: A bright new era for Mexico-US security relations?
- MEXICO: Air quality raises alarms in Valle de México
- MEXICO: GN in spotlight over student killing
CENTRAL AMERICA
- COSTA RICA: Chaves faces corruption and security challenges
- REGION: Growing threat from forest fires
- PANAMA: Green hydrogen plan in the works
- NICARAGUA: Ortega slams Colombia following ICJ ruling
CARIBBEAN
- REGION: China capitalising on Caribbean vulnerability
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
The targeted killing of Marcelo Pecci, a Paraguayan prosecutor who was overseeing high-profile drug investigations and had a reputation for incorruptibility, has produced shock due to both the brutality of the assassination, and what it says about Paraguay’s increasingly brazen and sophisticated criminal gangs.
Security & Strategic Review - May 2022
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- Gang crackdown in El Salvador reignites democracy concerns
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- BOLIVIA: Heads roll at counter-narcotics agency
- VENEZUELA: Corruption and abuses in the Orinoco Mining Arc
- COLOMBIA: Deadly army raid in Putumayo revives ‘false positives’ scandal
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Public security and the upcoming elections
- CHILE-REGION: Boric signals pro-active stance on climate with Escazú Treaty
- CHILE: No quick solution to Mapuche conflict
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Violent crime encroaches on tourist hotspots
- MEXICO: Water scarcity looms large in northern Mexico
- MEXICO: Trade stifled on US border amid migration dispute
CENTRAL AMERICA
- HONDURAS: Hernández loses final appeal
- PANAMA/REGION: US urges regional cooperation on migration
CARIBBEAN
- REGION: Food security shoots up the Caribbean agenda
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
A crackdown on gangs, which was instigated in late March by the Nuevas Ideas (NI) government led by President Nayib Bukele in response to soaring homicides, is sparking major democracy and human rights-related concerns.
Security & Strategic Review - April 2022
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- Booming coca cultivation in Peru and Colombia draws US concern
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- ECUADOR: Steps to address the prisons crisis
- BOLIVIA: UN rapporteur emphasises need for judicial reform
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: The battle with Telegram
- PARAGUAY: Politicians hit by drug investigations
- URUGUAY: Still fighting against gender violence
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Forced internal displacement surges
- MEXICO: Outrage as school benefits programme axed
- MEXICO: Cryptocurrency: the new frontier for Mexican DTOs
CENTRAL AMERICA
- GUATEMALA/REGION: Gender rights remain in a precarious state
- COSTA RICA/REGION: Costa Rica legalises medicinal cannabis use
- NICARAGUA: Convictions of political prisoners cause outcry
CARIBBEAN
- REGION: Caricom leaders worry about the effects of climate change and war
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Killing of Venezuelan baby migrant highlights migrant crisis
The US Department of State’s latest International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), published 1 March, outlined major backsliding in coca eradication in Colombia and Peru in 2020.
Security & Strategic Review - March 2022
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- Corruption levels stagnate, casting doubt over López Obrador’s key pledge
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Arauca gripped by guerrilla-on-guerrilla violence
- VENEZUELA-COLOMBIA: Alarm over military drift in Venezuela-Russia relations
- ECUADOR: Oil spill highlights erosion risks in pipeline system
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Public security policies in Rio – plus ça change?
- REGION: UN urges different responses to wildfires
- BRAZIL-REGION: Europol operation busts drug trafficking network
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: US bans Mexican fishing boats from Gulf of Mexico
- MEXICO: LGBTI+ violence on the rise
CENTRAL AMERICA
- HONDURAS: Hernández’s arrest – a turning point in Honduras?
- EL SALVADOR: Spying scandal reignites press freedom concerns
- GUATEMALA: Giammattei’s security claims raise eyebrows
CARIBBEAN
- GUYANA & SURINAME: Challenges ahead for Guyana and Suriname
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Mexico’s performance in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released by Berlin-based NGO Transparency International (TI) on 25 January, was notable not because of a significant improvement or decline, but precisely due to a lack of meaningful change. Despite President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s strong anti-corruption rhetoric, which underpinned his 2018 electoral campaign, efforts to tackle corruption remain limited, with high levels of impunity and an increasing number of corruption scandals that implicate those close to the president.
Security & Strategic Review - February 2022
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- Boric’s public security challenge in Chile
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- ECUADOR: Lasso takes a hard line in response to surging violence
- COLOMBIA: Police reform clears congress
- PERU: Castillo facing mounting transparency concerns
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Warnings of setbacks to democracy
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Alarms raised over dangers facing journalists
- MEXICO: New ‘Remain in Mexico’ raises old concerns
- MEXICO: López Obrador under pressure over medicine shortages
CENTRAL AMERICA
- GUATEMALA: Marking a key anniversary
- EL SALVADOR: New water law draws criticism
- HONDURAS: Killing of indigenous activist underlines priority for new government
- COSTA RICA: More progress in clean energy efforts
CARIBBEAN
- REGION: Oil and gas producers at bottom of Caribbean corruption index
- BARBADOS: Mottley begins new term
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Chile’s President-elect Gabriel Boric won a convincing victory over his far-right rival, José Antonio Kast, in the presidential run-off in December.
Security & Strategic Review - January 2022
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- Major security policy changes expected in Honduras under Castro
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Farc removed from US terror blacklist
- VENEZUELA/ECUADOR: Saab under scrutiny in Ecuador
- ECUADOR: Uncertainty follows high court ruling upholding rights of nature
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Red alerts over forest fires
- ARGENTINA: Rights groups denounce police lethality
- BRAZIL: New development in fight against PCC
- PARAGUAY-BRAZIL: Unrelenting wave of violence on the border
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Little progress on femicides
- MEXICO: Republican austerity takes a knock
- MEXICO: Enforced disappearances continue to haunt Mexico
CENTRAL AMERICA
- PANAMA: Clan del Golfo raids reveal increasing security concerns
- COSTA RICA: Corruption concerns prevail ahead of February elections
- COSTA RICA/PANAMA: First moves in extending marine biosphere reserves
CARIBBEAN
- BARBADOS: Mottley calls early election
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Honduras’ president-elect Xiomara Castro, of the left-wing opposition Partido Libertad y Refundación (Libre), has promised sweeping reforms to demilitarise citizen security and redouble efforts in the fight against corruption after more than a decade of Partido Nacional (PN) rule.