Latin American Special Reports
The continuing importance of hydrocarbons
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- Introduction
- Historical role of fossil fuels in the region
- 2010s drive towards energy transition
- Limits of clean energy drive in the region (difficulties financing decarbonisation efforts)
- Colombia case study: Petro pushing to phase out fossil fuels but failing
- Continued global demand for fossil fuels driving exploitation in producing countries
- Brazil case study: squaring conservation commitments with more exploration
- New capacity coming online: Guyana, Suriname, Argentina Vaca Muerta + more
- Venezuela case study: to what extent will the oil industry recover its former glory?
- Future plans - how is rightward political shift changing energy policies?
- Geopolitical considerations/potential influence of multilateral climate commitments
- Is the energy transition stalled? Can the transition continue domestically in fossil fuel-producing nations even as they maintain or grow exports?
- Conclusion: to what extent did the previous fossil fuel era end?
Latin America is home to vast reserves of oil and gas, with a long history of exploiting these resources both in partnership with foreign firms and through national oil companies (NOCs), which have become inextricably linked to fiscal stability, national sovereignty, and energy security in producing nations.
Rare earths and critical minerals
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- Rare earths and critical minerals - what are they?
- Where are they?
- What is the outlook for demand?
- The US-China stand off
- Washington plays catch up
- The European perspective
- Brazil leads the charge
- USA Rare Earth makes its move in Brazil
- Concern over REE preferential access
- Argentina: the lithium RIGI story
- New Chilean government eyes value added
- Peru seen as player with “high geological potential”
- 2023 mining law holds Mexico back
- Bolivia moves away from state-led industrialisation
- Corporate moves in critical minerals and REEs
- Rare earths and the environment
- Conclusion – the coming boom
Perhaps the first question to ask about rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals is what are they are and where they are? The US Geological Survey identifies around 50 “critical materials” judged to be essential for renewable energy projects, defence systems, and advanced manufacturing.
The return of the Monroe Doctrine
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- The end of an era?
- Is the Monroe Doctrine coming back?
- Boats and tankers under threat
- The big picture; US national security strategy (NSS)
- China maintains LAC focus
- Trump’s use of tariffs
- Latin America swings to the right
- 2026: a year of heightened risk
- What chances of a nationalist backlash?
- Examining the future (1): Mexico
- Examining the future (2): Brazil
- Examining the future (3): Colombia
- Conclusion: the year of uncertainty
At round 2am local time in the morning of 3 January this year, a force of some 150 US military aircraft used bombs and missiles to attack a series of targets in Caracas and outlying areas, clearing the way for approximately 200 Special Forces troops to come in by helicopter, surround a presidential compound at a military base in the capital, and capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Celia Flores.
Election Watch
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- Introduction
- COSTA RICA: Continuity candidate remains favourite in uncertain race
- PERU: Anything could happen
- COLOMBIA: Deep polarisation to squeeze out moderates
- THE BAHAMAS: PLP looking for a second term
- BARBADOS: Mottley calls snap election
- BRAZIL: Lula guns for re-election, but not guaranteed
- HAITI: Will elections finally take place?
This year will see voters head to the polls in four Latin American countries - Costa Rica, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil - and at least two in the Caribbean, where elections are due in The Bahamas and an early election has been called in Barbados.