Article Archives - Americas Quarterly

Cuban soldiers hold images of Raúl and Fidel Castro at a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana in Jan.

Cuba’s Military: The Institution Washington Cannot Ignore

Negotiating with Cuba’s armed forces will make some uncomfortable, but it may be the only viable path to change.

Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz speaks during a press conference in La Paz on Jan. 13

In Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz Faces an Electoral Stress Test

The March 22 subnational elections are a critical bellwether of support for the president in Bolivia’s shifting political landscape.

Colombian presidential candidates Iván Cepeda, Abelardo De La Espriella and Sergio Fajardo.

Colombia: Meet the Candidates 2026

Violence and corruption top voter concerns ahead of the first round of presidential elections on May 31.

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Feb. 3

Uruguay’s Orsi Confronts Economic Headwinds and Shifting Geopolitics

One year into his term, President Yamandú Orsi has made moderate gains in security and trade diversification amid new foreign policy pressures and a slowing economy.

Protesters demonstrate outside the National Congress in Buenos Aires on Feb. 19 as the Chamber of Deputies debates a controversial labor reform bill proposed by President Javier Milei's administration

Argentina’s Polarization Threatens Milei’s Pro-Market Agenda

Despite entrenched opposition, the administration hopes Congress will approve key reforms and the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.

Peru: Meet the Candidates 2026

Rising crime rates and protracted political instability top voter concerns ahead of the April 12 first-round vote. All seats in Congress are also up for election.

Firefighters extinguish a burning truck set on fire by organized crime groups in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Feb. 22

“El Mencho”’s Death Will Test Mexico’s Meager State

The perennially under-resourced government may struggle to contain spiraling violence following the demise of a cartel leader.

U.S. President Donald Trump, during a news conference on tariffs on Feb. 20, 2026, at the White House.

REACTION: How Trump’s 15% Tariff Move Impacts Latin America

The region remains well-positioned to face the new levies, experts say.

Costa Rica’s Democracy Faces a New Test, But It Will Endure

The election of Laura Fernández extends Costa Rica’s populist experiment. Its democracy will weather it, for now, two experts write.

Peru's President José María Balcázar stands in Congress for his inauguration in Lima on February 18.

Peru’s Political Instability Enters a New Chapter Under Balcázar

José María Balcázar is tasked with ensuring a smooth government transition on July 28, an expert writes.

LIMA, PERU - JANUARY 21: Peruâs interim president Jose Jeri arrives to hold a press conference at the Government Palace in Peru's Lima after appearing before the congressional Audit Commission, as he declined to give a clear response to media questions regarding alleged secret meetings with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang on January 21, 2026. (Photo by John Reyes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

REACTION: Peru Removes Another President

The nation’s Congress voted to oust José Jerí, underscoring the instability that will shape the first round of general elections on April 12.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a press conference in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, on February 5.

Canada’s Alternative to Trump’s Doctrine for the Americas

A middle-power vision calls for a broader inter-American dialogue. Will it resonate with Latin American countries?

A set of electrical towers next to a road in the Western city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, in early February.

Reinventing Venezuela’s Struggling Electricity Sector

Having enough electricity is key to the nation’s post-Maduro recovery. Two experts offer a way forward.

Colombia's opposition frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella at an event in Bogota in December 2025.Colombia's opposition frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella at an event in Bogota in December 2025.

Colombia’s Bukele? Abelardo De La Espriella Surges Ahead

The right-wing frontrunner in Colombia’s election tells AQ he’s an “odd fish, but not a dangerous one,” and addresses questions about his past.

People take photos of an iceberg near the coast of Spert Island in Antarctica in December 2025.

South American Antarctica: The Final Frontier of Hemispheric Security

The future of the “White Continent” might be in question as great powers reactivate their spheres of influence, an expert writes.