Despite mounting evidence of Iranian support for terrorist organizations and growing ties in Latin America, Vice President Joe Biden said to reporters last Wednesday that “People talk about Hezbollah. They talk about Iranian support for weapons and the rest. I guarantee you, Iran will not be able to pose a hemispheric threat to the United…
US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) expressed concern for the rule of law in Nicaragua during confirmation hearings on February 7 to determine the next US Ambassador for a handful of Latin American countries. During confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Phyllis Powers said that she would “speak clear and with conviction about the…
The Andes mountain range is the world’s longest continental mountain range, and while second in height outside of Asia, the range contains the highest volcanoes in the world. Consensus currently supports the idea that the Andes derive their name from the Quechua word “anti” which can be translated to “high crest.” Running over 4,000 miles…
Despite drastic differences culturally, religiously, and geographically, Venezuela’s Chavez and Iran’s Ahmadinejad seem to be united as enemies of a common enemy. Both countries are fond of railing against the "imperial Yankee," and a planned tour of leftist Latin Amarican states by Ahmadinejad is seen as a demonstration of solidarity against Western powers. Coming on…
According to the Chilean newspaper “El Mercurio” Chile’s economy is projected to grow 4.1% in 2012. Down from 6.5% in 2011, expected growth in 2012 would nonetheless top not only the projected average for all of Latin America, but the global average of just 3.1% according to the paper. Regional growth is expected to be…
Mercosur is a full customs union encompassing Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay. Additionally, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia and Perú are associate members of the union, and as such, participate in the economic union, but not the unified customs system. While Venezuela signed into the union in 2006, their membership has been blocked ever since by…
Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia met on the 16th of December to solidify an economic alliance initiated by Alan García Pérez, the former president of Peru. In the interest of greater integration between the four countries, The Pacific Alliance (Alianza del Pacífico) has solidified bilateral trade agreements to facilitate and foment trade between the countries in addition to…
In 2009 the country removed then President, Manuel Zelaya, from power for attempting an unconstitutional takeover inspired by the support of leftist Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. In February, the country’s legislature moved to implement special economic zones with the hopes of creating a framework which would allow for growth which would eventually mimic the unqualified…
Mari Carmen Aponte was appointed by the Obama administration as Ambassador to El Salvador. Because she has been a controversial appointment, twice rejected by the US Congress, Obama appointed her while the Congress was not in session to avoid a traditional confirmation. Almost immediately after beginning her tenuous tenure, Ms Aponte exposed the justification for…
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