Latin America
El Salvador’s Mass Trials Raise New Due Process Concerns
El Salvador’s mass trials are putting hundreds of alleged gang members before judges at once, raising questions over due process, individualized evidence, and the country’s obligations under international law.
Bolivia's Economic Reforms Face Pressure Amid Protests and Political Unrest
In Oct. 2025, Bolivia elected Rodrigo Paz as president. The new administration quickly encountered protests, political turmoil, and supply-chain disruptions over rising costs and politically costly economic reforms.
Mexico Proposes Social Media Restrictions Following School Attack
Following a brutal school attack earlier this month, President Sheinbaum plans to require social media platforms to remove content that incites violence.
Uncertainty Remains as Cuban President Claims Hypocrisy by the United States
Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel criticizes US sanctions as Cuba expands market reforms amid persistent blackouts
Brazil Presidential Runoff Puts Indigenous Land Rights at Stake
As Brazil commences with the presidential runoff, there are questions of how the results will affect Indigenous land rights. For Indigenous communities still waiting for official recognition, the election may determine not only the direction of government policy but also how effectively their territorial rights are protected amongst ongoing legislative and judicial disputes.
US-Venezuela Oil Deal Tests Venezuela’s Democratic Transition
Nine months after former President Nicolás Maduro was removed from power, the United States and Venezuela signed a major oil agreement as Venezuela’s transitional government faces continued pressure to hold free elections.
Milei Escalates Argentina’s Falklands Claim Amid Offshore Oil Dispute
President Javier Milei’s renewed push for Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands has brought a nearly 200-year-old dispute back into focus as tensions with Britain grow over offshore oil development.
Op-ed: Peru’s Politics of Instability
As Peru approaches new presidential elections, a cycle of political upheaval has normalized instability, raising urgent questions about whether democracy can function when crisis becomes routine.
Inside El Salvador’s Largest Mass Trial
The virtual trial of 486 alleged MS-13 members marks the country’s largest mass prosecution yet, raising questions about due process under Bukele’s four-year state of emergency.
Op-Ed: US Pressure on Cuba is Backfiring
Sanctions and oil restrictions have fueled nationwide blackouts, deepened civilian suffering, and pushed Cuba closer to US adversaries.
UN Committee Urges General Assembly Action on Mexico Disappearances Crisis
On April 4, the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) requested that the UN Secretary-General refer Mexico’s ongoing disappearance crisis to the General Assembly for consideration of response measures.
CELAC Summit Highlights Regional Divisions and Global Ambitions
Low attendance at CELAC’s latest summit exposed ongoing divisions and the lasting influence of the United States as the bloc looks to strengthen ties beyond the region.
International Force Deploys in Haiti as Gang Violence Crisis Reaches Critical Point
A US-backed security mission is beginning to deploy in Haiti amid cautious optimism from UN officials, but questions remain over whether foreign intervention can reverse years of state collapse and gang control.
UN Reports Persistent Human Rights Abuses in Venezuela Despite Leadership Change
Reports presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council on March 16 indicate that allegations of torture and arbitrary detention in Venezuela have continued despite the removal of President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.
Colombia and Ecuador Tariff Escalation
Colombia is preparing to impose a 50 percent tariff on roughly 300 Ecuadorian goods in retaliation for Ecuador's matching increase, escalating a trade dispute that threatens more than $2 billion in bilateral commerce.
Michelle Bachelet Enters Race to Succeed Guterres as UN Secretary-General
Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet enters the race to succeed Antonio Guterres as UN secretary-general with backing from Chile, Brazil, and Mexico.
Former Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra Sentenced to 14 Years for Corruption
A Peruvian court has sentenced former President Martin Vizcarra to 14 years in prison for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes while serving as governor of Moquegua. The ruling adds another former head of state to the growing list of Peruvian presidents convicted or detained on corruption charges.
Jair Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Sentence for Plotting Coup
Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year sentence for orchestrating a failed coup attempt to block the transfer of power after the 2022 election. The ruling concludes a multiyear investigation into the plot, which prosecutors say involved plans to sabotage Brazil’s electoral system and assassinate now President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and now Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.
Peru Ends Diplomatic Relations With Mexico
Peru severed diplomatic ties with Mexico after its government granted asylum to former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who is facing rebellion charges tied to Pedro Castillo’s 2022 attempt to dissolve Congress. The decision marks the most serious escalation in a relationship already strained by years of political friction
Peru Has a New President
Peru has now seen eight different faces for their presidency in the past ten years. On Oct.10, Congress voted to remove President Dina Boluarte amid allegations of illicit enrichment and public outrage over rising violent crime that left her approval ratings in the single digits.