VENEZUELA ELECTIONS 2024 Blacklisted and muzzled, Maduro’s top rival can’t be held down Today 11:25 María Corina Machado has built a powerful, energised citizen movement in Venezuela. How far it can ultimately go is up to Nicolás Maduro.
Cryptocurrencies Venezuela crypto remittances skyrocket as migration crisis worsens 24-07-2024 21:11 Amount transmitted via crypto in Venezuela likely reached a record 9%of all the money sent home last year, according to data from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis. by María Paula Mijares Torres, Bloomberg
BILATERAL RELATIONS Lula calls Brazil’s ambassador in Argentina home for ‘review’ of bilateral ties 16-07-2024 10:24 Brazil's government stresses that its envoy in Buenos Aires has not been "recalled" but instead called to Brasília for consultation obver how to improve the relationship with Argentina's President Javier Milei.
ENERGY & GAS Bolivia announces discovery of natural gas 'mega-field' 15-07-2024 18:34 Bolivia has discovered a massive natural gas field with reserves of 1.7 trillion cubic feet, its biggest discovery of the fuel since 2005.
EDITORIAL Between Tucumán and Asunción 13-07-2024 07:44 President Milei’s decision to skip the Mercosur summit does more to compromise Argentina’s future than his photograph and 10-point pact does to advance it.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT Mercosur leaders slam Milei's absence from summit 09-07-2024 09:44 Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, Luis Lacalle Pou and Santiago Peña criticise Argentine leaders decision not to attend a Mercosur presidential summit.
UNREST IN BOLIVIA Lula visits Bolivia seeking to unify the left after failed coup 09-07-2024 09:24 Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva travels to Bolivia for a trip meant to broker peace between President Luis Arce and former president Evo Morales.
MERCOSUR TENSIONS Lacalle Pou criticises Milei’s decision to skip Mercosur summit 08-07-2024 16:15 "The message is not the only important thing, the messenger is very important," declares Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou in response to Javier Milei's Mercosur summit.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT Mondino tells Mercosur peers that bloc needs ‘adrenaline shock’ 08-07-2024 13:03 Argentina’s Foreign Minister tells her Mercosur counterparts that trade bloc needs an “adrenaline shock” to realise its “untapped potential” – yet President Javier Milei still won’t attend presidential summit.
BILATERAL RELATIONS Milei walks fine line as he slams 'judicial persecution' of Bolsonaro 08-07-2024 11:47 President Javier Milei oversteps normal diplomatic conventions by denouncing "judicial persecution" of Jair Bolsonaro, his ideological ally in Brazil.
PRESIDENT IN BRAZIL Milei backs Bolsonaro without attacking Lula in Brazil visit 08-07-2024 11:17 Javier Milei headlines conservative rally in southern Brazil alongside right-wing former president Jair Bolsonaro, the biggest gamble yet on his unorthodox foreign policy approach.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Milei takes his far-right roadshow to Lula’s backyard in Brazil 07-07-2024 08:42 In a Latin America dominated by leftists, Argentina's libertarian leader Javier Milei is all alone.
BEYOND THE HEADLINES Staging a coup 06-07-2024 05:54 The historical yardstick of coups d’état has been whether they are successful or not with their authenticity seldom coming into question. Except in Latin America, where magic realism has added that word “autogolpe” to its vocabulary. by Michael Soltys
HUMAN RIGHTS Lula reinstates commission to probe Brazil dictatorship crimes 05-07-2024 17:16 President Lula orders reinstatement of a special commission on crimes during Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, which had been dissolved by his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.
MERCOSUR TENSIONS Milei chooses bath of conservative affection and rebuffs Mercosur 05-07-2024 11:33 President prefers a safe conservative conference in Brazil to a trip to Asunción for the Mercosur summit and a meeting with Lula.
Foreign relations & diplomacy Brazil 'regrets' Milei's absence at upcoming Mercosur summit 04-07-2024 00:12 Senior Brazilian diplomat says her nation "regrets" President Javier Milei’s decision not to attend the upcoming Mercosur summit in Asunción.
LITHIUM IN LATIN AMERICA New lithium plant inaugurated in Salta Province 03-07-2024 22:41 French mining group Eramet and its Chinese partner Tsingshan inaugurate new lithium exploitation plant, an investment worth US$870 million.
UNREST IN BOLIVIA Growing discontent amid dollar, fuel shortages in resource-rich Bolivia 03-07-2024 10:58 Along with the fuel shortage in Bolivia, which tends to be chronic due to economic problems in imports, there is also a lack of dollars in the country and, consequently, an increase in the exchange rate in the parallel market.
BILATERAL RELATIONS Milei defends Bolivia, Brazil views in ‘dinosaur’ rant 02-07-2024 15:35 President Javier Milei defends suspicion that last week’s coup attempt in Bolivia was staged, continues attacks on Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
COUP ALLEGATIONS IN BOLIVIA Milei doubles down on criticism of Bolivia’s government, Lula 02-07-2024 12:10 Javier Milei doubles down on his criticism of Bolivian government's "staged fraud" and Brazilian President Lula, calling the veteran leftist "the perfect idiot."
AMERICAS Venezuela's Maduro says talks to resume with United States 02-07-2024 11:09 Nicolás Maduro on Monday announced the resumption of dialogue with the United States.
DIPLOMATIC ROW Bolivia recalls ambassador to Argentina after Milei denies failed coup 01-07-2024 15:54 Bolivia recalls ambassador to neighbouring Argentina and summons Buenos Aires' man in La Paz after President Milei issues controversial statement on alleged coup d'état.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Milei picks pro-Bolsonaro rally over Lula for first Brazil trip 01-07-2024 15:29 Javier Milei is finally making his first visit to Brazil – but instead of meeting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, he will instead rally with his leftist counterpart’s biggest rival, Jair Bolsonaro.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Argentina reverses Bolivia stance, saying coup attempt was faked 01-07-2024 15:25 Argentina becomes first neighbouring nation to join calls from Bolivia’s opposition — including by former President Evo Morales — in denouncing the dramatic military uprising as staged.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Milei shuns Mercosur summit and awkward meet with Lula 01-07-2024 15:00 Argentina’s President Javier Milei pulls out of upcoming Mercosur summit in Asunción and potentially awkward meeting with Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lithium in Argentina Argentina is about to unleash a wave of lithium in a global glut 30-06-2024 09:06 Four new projects will finally begin to churn out lithium in the weeks and months ahead. That will almost double production capacity in Argentina, whose growth potential has long lured the attention of battery makers around the world.
OPINION & ANALYSIS From attempted murder to an attempted coup 29-06-2024 04:52 Fernando Sabag Montiel is a consequence of an exhausted political and economic system in Argentina, while Milei has emerged as a response to that same failure. by Agustino Fontevecchia
BILATERAL RELATIONS Milei refuses to apologise to Lula and his ‘inflamed ego’ 28-06-2024 14:02 President Javier Milei says he won't apologise to his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, branding him a"lefty" with an "inflamed ego.”
UNREST IN BOLIVIA Bolivian Army chiefs arrested after 'coup' attempt 27-06-2024 12:13 Two Bolivian Army leaders arrested after soldiers and tanks converge in front of government buildings in what President Luis Arce called an attempted "coup d'état."
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Milei disagreements, Bolivia drama marks start of OAS general assembly 26-06-2024 23:22 Organisation of American States began a hectic general assembly in Asunción on Wednesday, marked by the attempted coup in Bolivia and new disagreements with President Javier Milei's Argentina.
UNREST IN BOLIVIA Bolivian president urges mobilisation against 'coup d'état' 26-06-2024 18:01 President Luis Arce on Wednesday called for Bolivians to mobilise in the face of an attempted "coup d'état" by military officers who tried to force their way into the seat of government in the centre of La Paz.
FOREIGN RELATIONS Brazil's Lula waiting for apology from Milei for talking 'nonsense' 26-06-2024 13:01 Brazilian leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says he will not speak with Javier Milei until Argentina's President apologises to him for the "nonsense" said previously.
ENERGY & GAS Declining gas giant eyes new role piping Argentine gas to Brazil 20-06-2024 15:03 Bolivia is offering its pipelines to transport natural gas from Argentina’s Vaca Muerta field to Brazil.
BORDER ROW Argentina starts removing solar panels from Chilean border 18-06-2024 10:43 Chilean President Gabriel Boric pushes Argentina to act and remove solar panels at a southern military base that were erroneously installed on Chile’s side of border.
DIPLOMATIC ROW Boric demands action from Argentina in row over military base border 17-06-2024 14:53 Chilean leader pushes Argentina to act and remove solar panels at a southern military base that were erroneously installed on Chile’s side of border.
ECONOMY – ANALYSIS Brazil Central Bank daces self-inflicted crisis 17-06-2024 11:57 Brazil’s Central Bank is facing an emergency of its own making that threatens to sabotage years of deft policy making and credibility gains.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Milei and Lula’s frosty relationship was in full display at G7 15-06-2024 17:41 Mingling among global leaders including Pope Francis, their differences were on full display.
FOREIGN RELATIONS Brazil asks Argentina for help in locating Bolsonaro coup fugitives 13-06-2024 09:23 Brazil has asked Argentina for help in locating the possible presence of more than 140 individuals it says are fugitives from justice.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland: what Kyiv wants 12-06-2024 13:10 Ukraine is bringing together dozens of world leaders and international organisations in Switzerland this weekend to mount pressure on Russia and outline a path towards peace.
CRIME & SECURITY Juan Darthés sentenced in Brazil to six years in prison for rape 10-06-2024 16:25 Actor Juan Darthés sentenced to six years in prison by court in Brazil for 2009 rape of his former colleague Thelma Fardin.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Argentina tells Brazil it knows nothing about Brasília coup fugitives 10-06-2024 14:24 Authorities in Argentina have denied the alleged presence of some 60 Brazilian fugitives from justice in its territory.
LATIN AMERICA Sheinbaum's Mexico election win bolsters Latin American left 06-06-2024 11:31 Claudia Sheinbaum's victory means that both Brazil and Mexico – Latin America's two biggest nations in terms of population and economic output – remain firmly on the left side of the political spectrum.
mexico election 2024 Claudia Sheinbaum makes history as Mexico's first woman president 03-06-2024 13:15 Claudia Sheinbaum has been elected Mexico's first woman president by a landslide, with preliminary results giving her between 58-60% of total ballots cast.
EL SALVADOR El Salvador's Bukele sworn-in for second term as Milei watches on 01-06-2024 17:42 El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele sworn in for a second term with Argentina's Javier Milei among the guests in attendance.
CHINA-LATIN AMERICA China’s US$8.5 billion in steel spurs Latin America toward tariffs 21-05-2024 14:48 One after another, Latin American nations are following in the footsteps of the United States and Europe by imposing prohibitive tariffs on Chinese imports — a strain in what’s been an otherwise cozy relationship.
LATIN AMERICA Venezuela backtracks deal on opposition leader aides’ exit to Argentina 17-05-2024 15:13 Venezuela’s government backtracked on a deal to allow six aides to opposition leader María Corina Machado to seek asylum in Argentina.
MIGRATION & HUMAN RIGHTS UN: Number of children fleeing Latin America is soaring 15-05-2024 13:20 More than 30,000 children have crossed the perilous Darien Gap jungle in four months on the path to a better life in the United States, a number up 40% from the same period last year.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ECLAC forecasts 3.1% decline for Argentina’s economy this year 09-05-2024 17:56 Argentina growth forecast revised downwards by United Nations body, while regional outlook is improved.
CRIME & SECURITY Crime deterring return of South American footballers 07-05-2024 13:19 Insecurity in Latin America often discourages local football stars who want to return to their roots as they reach the end of their careers.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Far-right surge in European elections may put EU-CELAC relations at risk 06-05-2024 16:13 A strengthening of the far right in upcoming European parliamentary elections could put the brakes on the EU's relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.