Caribbean & Central America

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Caribbean & Central America - October 2026

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We begin this October 2026 edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Caribbean & Central America in Nicaragua where lawmakers recently passed various constitutional reforms designed to further cement the power of authoritarian co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo and secure a dynastic succession, drawing major international criticism, as the first piece explores. The second article looks at the return of former president Juan Orlando Hernández (Partido Nacional, PN, 2014-2022) to Honduras.

Caribbean & Central America - September 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- COSTA RICA: Fernández ramps up conflict with judicial branch
- PANAMA/REGION: Seeking to downplay contraband concerns
- NICARAGUA: Doubling down further on opposition
- GUATEMALA: New port authority part of infrastructure modernisation drive
- PANAMA: Growing speculation over major mine reopening
Caribbean
- HAITI: Refocusing away from Port-au-Prince
- REGION: Two or even three-speed growth expected
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Shell and NGC fail to agree on Aphrodite project
Economic Highlights
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

We begin this September 2026 edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Caribbean & Central America in Costa Rica, where President Laura Fernández has accused top judges of an attempted coup d’état amid a deepening conflict between the executive and judiciary, which has carried over from her predecessor (2022-2026) and political mentor Rodrigo Chaves’ time in office. The next piece considers a recent report on contraband and smuggling in Central America by US-based non-profit Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (Tracit), which, in particular, identifies Panama’s Colón free trade zone (FTZ) as a “central vulnerability” in Central America’s efforts to address these crimes.

Caribbean & Central America - August 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: New Sica secretary general sparks hopes for integration push
- GUATEMALA: Stronger ties with US following AG change
- HONDURAS: Controversial law protecting agro-industrial sector takes effect
- COSTA RICA: Moving on hardline promises
- REGION: Foreign direct investment falls slightly
- NICARAGUA: Debt rising but credit rating remains stable
Caribbean
- REGION: Addressing the fertility problem
- REGION: Keeping the call for reparations in the news
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Business and the state of emergency
- HAITI: Is investment the way?
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

On 10 June Lina Ajoy, a seasoned Costa Rican diplomat, was appointed by the Central American Integration System (Sica) as its next secretary general for 2026-2030.

Caribbean & Central America - July 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- REGION: Press freedom hopes rise in Guatemala as situation worsens elsewhere
- PANAMA: Government under pressure over deadly prison riot and jail break
- GUATEMALA: Controversial mine reopens
- NICARAGUA: More signs of strengthening ties with Moscow
- REGION: Tourism sector continues to grow
- HONDURAS: Energy reform draws international support but domestic criticism
Caribbean
- HAITI: Guterres sees ‘faint glimmers of hope’
- SURINAME: Preparing for wealth
- CUBA: Listening stations
- CUBA: Leadership signs up for economic reforms
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

On 8 June international press lobbies hailed the decision under Guatemala’s new attorney general, Gabriel Estuardo García Luna, to drop all cases against journalists from shuttered investigative outlet elPeriódico.

Caribbean & Central America - June 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- GUATEMALA: End of an era as Porras steps down
- REGION: Fears mounting in Central America over El Niño forecast
- COSTA RICA: Fernández confirms electric train as part of economic plans
Caribbean
- CUBA: Spotlight on Cuba’s Gaesa as Castro indicted
- CUBA: Power failure
- JAMAICA: Oil – blessing or curse?
- REGION: Building state capacity seen as key to protecting Caribbean democracy
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

The first piece in this June 2026 edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Caribbean & Central America begins in Guatemala where the eight-year tenure of the country’s now former attorney general (AG) María Consuelo Porras (2018-2026) ended on 17 May.

Caribbean & Central America - May 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- COSTA RICA: Shoring up ties with the US
- REGION: Rights groups reiterate calls for end to gender violence
- NICARAGUA: Marking a key anniversary
- EL SALVADOR: AI telemedicine programme expands to cover chronic illnesses
- NICARAGUA: New US sanctions test gold mining strategy
- PANAMA: Iran conflict drives windfall as Canal transit price spikes
Caribbean
- GUYANA/TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Facing up to a reversal of fortunes
- REGION: UK-Caribbean ministerial forum emphasises rules-based order
- REGION: War in Iran hits island economies
- CUBA: More sanctions
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Abinader puts gold on hold
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

In April the first 25 migrants from third countries arrived in Costa Rica under a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed the previous month with Washington, whereby Costa Rica would accept up to 25 third country nationals deported from the US per week.

Caribbean & Central America - April 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele under fresh pressure over human rights
- COSTA RICA/NICARAGUA: Renewed focus on cross-border illegal gold mining
- GUATEMALA: First ever prison census
- REGION: Fuel price increases give governments hard choices
- HONDURAS: Public spending law hands Asfura new powers
Caribbean
- CUBA: Four scenarios for 2026
- HAITI: A crucial few months
- REGION: Searching for agreement on labour migration
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

El Salvador’s authoritarian President Nayib Bukele and his Nuevas Ideas (NI) government are facing renewed criticism over the state of human rights under the state of exception first implemented in March 2022 to tackle gangs, which remains in place.

Caribbean & Central America - March 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- NICARAGUA: Feeling the heat from Washington
- HONDURAS: GIEI presents final report on high-profile Cáceres murder
- PANAMA: Strengthening ties with the US
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele claims record drug haul amid other security achievements
- EL SALVADOR: Bitcoin crash impacts debt markets and relations with IMF
- REGION: Record remittances to northern Central American nations in 2025
- PANAMA: US$3bn bond sale in first under Mulino
Caribbean
- BARBADOS: Mottley extends her dominance
- CUBA: Diesel travels by tank
- GUYANA: Largest budget yet
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

Following the US military action in Venezuela to remove former president Nicolás Maduro (2013-2026), and amid extreme US pressure against Managua’s other key ally in the region, Cuba, there are signs that Nicaragua’s authoritarian government led by co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo has been making concessions to Washington, as the first piece in this March 2026 edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Caribbean & Central America explores. We then look at US-Panama relations following a 29 January ruling by Panama’s supreme court striking down a concession for two ports on the Panama Canal owned by Hong Kong-headquartered CK Hutchison Holdings (CKH) via its subsidiary Panama Ports Company (PPC) which is widely considered a victory for the US, which has sought to curb Chinese influence in the region.

Caribbean & Central America - February 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- HONDURAS: Asfura facing myriad issues upon taking office
- HONDURAS: Asfura promises new economic direction
- COSTA RICA: Chaves leaves mixed economic picture for successor Fernández
- COSTA RICA: Homicide figures remain near peak
- GUATEMALA: Fragile security situation exposed
Caribbean
- CUBA: Longer-term factors behind Cuba’s economic collapse
- CUBA: Fears grow of possible humanitarian crisis
- JAMAICA: Dealing with the consequences of Hurricane Melissa
- REGION: Caricom members struggling with the Trump challenge
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

Nasry Asfura of the right-wing Partido Nacional (PN) has been sworn in as Honduras’ new president following an electoral process mired in controversy.

Caribbean & Central America - January 2026

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Introduction
- Introduction
Central America
- HONDURAS: Libre leaves office with mixed record on security
- PANAMA: Mulino floats new anti-mafia law after record drug seizure
- NICARAGUA: Changes at CSJ as Murillo seeks to consolidate position
- GUATEMALA: OAS mission signals concern over judicial selection processes
- GUATEMALA: Setback for gov’t as CC suspends 2026 budget
- NICARAGUA: US imposes phased-in tariffs following trade investigation
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele gov’t announces AI education partnership with Elon Musk
Caribbean
- ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES: The end of Comrade Ralph
- ST LUCIA: Pierre and the SLP face a more challenging second term
- CUBA: New devaluation fails to convince the markets
- HAITI: Economic recovery on the agenda
- REGION: Tough year ahead?
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

Xiomara Castro’s presidential term ended in Honduras on 27 January.