Politics, Business & Culture in the Americas

CULTURA

Exploring Bad Bunny’s Oeuvre

AQ’s music columnist examines the artist’s body of work ahead of his Super Bowl performance.

Podcast

AQ Podcast | A Realistic Look at Venezuelan Oil

A longtime PDVSA executive discusses what political and economic steps are necessary for the Venezuelan oil industry to begin its long recovery

Venezuela

This view shows a gas station in Maracaibo, Venezuela on January 7, 2026. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in January 7, Washington will control sales of Venezuelan oil "indefinitely," a day after President Donald Trump announced Venezuela's interim leaders had agreed to US-managed marketing of 30-50 million barrels of crude.
How U.S. Companies May Return to Venezuela and Be Compliant

Washington has three ways to provide sanctions relief to the country and PDVSA. The cases of Syria, Sudan, and Iraq serve as historical references.

Venezuela

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, then-Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and Russian Ambassador Sergey Mélik-Bagdasárov appear at an event in Caracas in May 2025.
Washington’s Path to Displacing Rivals in Post-Maduro Venezuela

With Maduro removed, the U.S. faces the difficult task of limiting the influence of China, Russia and Iran without triggering instability.

Colombia

Colombian President Gustavo Petro at Plaza de Bolivar in Bogota, Colombia, Jan. 7, 2026.
Maduro’s Fall May Shape Colombia’s Election

Volatile relationships with Washington and Caracas are crucial wild cards in the upcoming presidential race.

Latin America

Fidel Castro addresses the UN General Assembly in New York in 1960.
Is This the End of the Fidel Castro Era?

Events in Venezuela, Cuba and beyond suggest that a particular brand of leftism is in its twilight in Latin America, writes AQ’s editor-in-chief.

Podcast

AQ Podcast | After Maduro: Risks in Venezuela and Beyond

Andrés Martínez-Fernández of the Heritage Foundation on what the capture of Nicolás Maduro might mean for the country and beyond.

Suriname

Suriname’s President Prepares for an Oil Boom

Jennifer Geerlings-Simons promises a novel blueprint for a delicate opportunity.

Venezuela

Delcy Rodriguez is sworn in as acting president of Venezuela, pledging loyalty to Maduro and to Chávez in Caracas on January 5, 2026.
Maduro’s Miscalculations Are a Cautionary Tale for Rodríguez

Venezuela’s interim president faces an existential balancing act: cooperating with the Trump administration while staying loyal to her base.

Venezuela

A sculpture of a hand holding an oil drilling rig outside the state-run Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. in Caracas in February 2025.
Venezuela: The Post-Maduro Oil, Gas and Mining Outlook 

The country could see a relatively rapid recovery of some oil production, depending on the leadership that emerges.

Venezuela

REACTION: Trump Says U.S. Will “Run” Venezuela After Maduro’s Capture

The historic military operation raises numerous questions about what’s next for Venezuela, and for U.S. relations with Latin America as a whole.

U.S. Policy

U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Dec. 15
Anti-Corruption: A Missing Element in Trump’s Latin America Policy

The administration’s decision not to enforce the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, among other choices, risks long-term damage to the region.

Venezuela

A Roadmap for Venezuela’s Future Transition

The U.S. should prepare humanitarian assistance and take other steps to help support a free Venezuela, two experts write.

Chile

President-elect José Antonio Kast waves a Chilean flag during an election night rally in Santiago on Dec. 14, 2025.
REACTION: What José Antonio Kast’s Victory Means for Chile

The right-wing former legislator won the presidency with a commanding 58% in the December 14 runoff.

Podcast

AQ Podcast | What the Trump Doctrine Means for Latin America

A look at Donald Trump’s increasingly assertive Latin America strategy

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