Latin American Security & Strategic Review
Security & Strategic Review - August 2021
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- Haiti’s crisis intensifies as Moïse assassinated
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Caracas brought to a standstill by gang violence
- COLOMBIA: New ELN leader will struggle to influence ground forces
- PERU: Plan to accelerate adaptation to climate change
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Lethal violence ticks up
- PARAGUAY: The struggle for vaccines
- CHILE: Structural political changes on the horizon?
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Michoacán remains ‘liberated’ territory for criminal groups
- MEXICO: Forced to regulate the use of marihuana
CENTRAL AMERICA
- HONDURAS: Verdict in landmark case
- PANAMA: Environmental groups on the alert over mining push
CARIBBEAN
- CUBA: Government faces unprecedented protests
- SURINAME: A tough first year for Santokhi
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
The assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July shocked Haitians and the international community alike, appearing to mark the culmination of the multifaceted political, institutional and security crises which has afflicted the country.
Security & Strategic Review - July 2021
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- Duque’s police reform unlikely to satisfy protesters
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Fears of long-term conflict in Apure
- ECUADOR: Alliance against illegal fishing
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Growing narco-control in Santiago
- BRAZIL: Unanswered questions over Rio police massacre
- ARGENTINA: Concerns over ‘lawfare’ impact on press freedom
- PARAGUAY: Dealing with insecurity
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Still afflicted by a shortage of medicines
- MEXICO: Organised crime drives electoral violence, influences elections
CENTRAL AMERICA
- GUATEMALA: Steps back in anti-impunity efforts
- NICARAGUA: Opposition arrests draw international condemnation
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele terminates Cicies agreement
CARIBBEAN
- REGION: Renewable energy drive will require huge investment
- REGION: Mounting concerns over food security
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-HAITI: Canal construction causes a stir
- THE BAHAMAS: Digital sand dollar making progress
Shaken by over five weeks of massive anti-government protests that have presented one of the biggest challenges of his presidency, on 6 June Colombia’s President Iván Duque offered his latest concession to the demonstrators, in the form of a proposed police reform.
Security & Strategic Review - June 2021
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- Mexico sees another electoral process marked by violence
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- ECUADOR: Lasso’s proposals for a challenging panorama
- REGION: Andean region beset by press freedom concerns
- BOLIVIA: Cocaine ‘mega-labs’ point to increasing narco activity
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: The Yanomami under attack
- BRAZIL: ‘King of the border’ turns himself in
- PARAGUAY: The growing cocaine business
- URUGUAY: Memories of the dictatorship resurface
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Nationwide drought is warning of things to come
CENTRAL AMERICA
- EL SALVADOR: Ejection of top judges and AG head fans democracy concerns
- HONDURAS: Electoral concerns persist despite new electoral reforms
- PANAMA: ACP sets carbon neutral target for Canal
CARIBBEAN
- HAITI: Kidnappings continue to surge
- REGION: US needs a more nuanced approach to counter China
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
Mexico’s 6 June midterm elections are billed as the country’s largest with over 20,000 elected posts up for grabs and over 120,000 candidates taking part.
Security & Strategic Review - May 2021
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- Out-of-control pandemic threatens Brazil
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA/REGION: The long arm of Mexico’s DTOs
- BOLIVIA: Familiar concerns over judicial politicisation
- PERU: Coca production continues to rise
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Water activists spy opportunity in new constitution
- ARGENTINA-URUGUAY: The US pays a visit
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Prioritising the reopening of schools
- MEXICO: Resetting relations with US
CENTRAL AMERICA
- EL SALVADOR/REGION: A key relationship under strain
- PANAMA: Another migrant crisis
- NICARAGUA: Electoral reform proposal fails to quell concerns
CARIBBEAN
- EASTERN CARIBBEAN: Living with seismic disaster
The coronavirus (Covid-19) has claimed more lives in Brazil in the first four months of 2021 than during the nine months of the pandemic last year.
Security & Strategic Review - April 2021
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- Stark warnings over food insecurity in Central America
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Maduro burns bridges over human rights criticisms
- BOLIVIA: Áñez arrest brings renewed turmoil
- REGION: Mixed results in efforts to combat gender violence
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Anti-corruption drive in tatters
- ARGENTINA: Giving up on the Lima Group
- ARGENTINA-PARAGUAY: Deforestation not just a Brazil problem
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Striving for vaccine self-sufficiency
- MEXICO: Santa Anita massacre underlines lack of protection for migrants
CENTRAL AMERICA
- HONDURAS/GUATEMALA: US-Central America cooperation faces major test
CARIBBEAN
- CUBA: Looking to call the shots
- REGION: The UN sees an opportunity for the Caribbean to ‘build back better’
- BELIZE: PUP consolidates gains, but difficulties ahead
The United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) and a group of humanitarian organisations have recently published reports warning of the rise in food insecurity in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and years of extreme climate events.
Security & Strategic Review - March 2021
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- Chile’s tough stance on migration
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- REGION: Mixed fortunes for Venezuelan migrants
- COLOMBIA: Transitional justice takes a step forward
- ECUADOR: Rise in narcotrafficking activity pushes up homicide rate
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: The dangers of Bolsonaro’s pro-gun agenda
- PARAGUAY: Familiar problems
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Mexico ratifies Escazú Agreement, which comes into force
- MEXICO: Slow progress on anti-corruption front
- MEXICO: Herbicide and GM maize ban meet with mixed reception
CENTRAL AMERICA
- HONDURAS: Outcry over move to permanently outlaw abortion
- EL SALVADOR: FMLN rally attack sparks political violence fears
- NICARAGUA: Another source of human rights concerns
CARIBBEAN
- GUYANA: A revision too far
- Caribbean pointers
Chilean authorities oversaw the largest single expulsion of undocumented migrants in the country on 10 February, deporting 86 Venezuelans and Colombians by air and 52 Peruvians and Bolivians by land from the city of Iquique in the northern Tarapacá Region, which borders Bolivia.
Security & Strategic Review - February 2021
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- Mounting pressure for police reform
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Peace promoters warn of escalating violence
- BOLIVIA: Surge in smuggling causes problems
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Mapuche conflict deepens despite conviction in Catrillanca case
- BRAZIL: Fraudsters find opportunities in coronavirus crisis
- PARAGUAY: Under pressure from human rights defenders
- URUGUAY: The bad pupil of IUU fishing
- CHILE: Violent crime – cause for concern?
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Redrawing security cooperation, relations with the US
- MEXICO: Taking on the challenge of UNSC membership
CENTRAL AMERICA
- REGION: New migrant caravan highlights key test for Biden
- GUATEMALA: Key election still pending
- NICARAGUA: FSLN tightens the screws
CARIBBEAN
- HAITI: New decrees prove contentious
- GUYANA: Escalating tension between Guyana and Venezuela
One of the most prominent global trends of 2020 was the emergence of police violence as a matter of mainstream political debate.
Security & Strategic Review - January 2021
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- No pacification in sight in Mexico
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Migrant deaths highlight growing danger
- BOLIVIA: Coca eradication still a point of contention
- REGION: Andean Community takes environmental action
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: The continuing threat of cybercrime
- BRAZIL: Backlash against deadly security policies
- ARGENTINA: A step forward for women’s rights
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Port security becomes new area of controversy
- MEXICO: Mexsat system at risk of collapse
CENTRAL AMERICA
- COSTA RICA: Claiming success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- EL SALVADOR: Police independence under scrutiny
- HONDURAS: New contenders, familiar problems
- PANAMA/REGION: DEA administrator pays unprecedented visit
CARIBBEAN
- THE BAHAMAS: Desperate times for The Bahamas government
Another year, another soaring homicide figure for Mexico.