U.S. Policy 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.

AQ Podcast | Cuba on the Brink

CNN’s Havana bureau chief on the U.S. oil blockade, the crisis gripping Cuba, and what might come next for the island.

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?

AQ Podcast | A Defining Moment for Latin America

An overview of what recent events mean for the region’s political and economic outlook.

Washington’s Sharpening Stance on Mexico

As the U.S. reclassifies Mexican cartels as a national security threat, pressure on Mexico is intensifying—and the margin for miscalculation is narrowing.

From left: Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting with oil executives in the White House on Jan. 9.

Hostile Takeover and Abandonment Explain U.S. Actions in Venezuela

Two analogies can help us understand today’s state of play and the consequences of Trump’s policy in the country.

Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's president, right, and Mark Carney, Canada's prime minister, speak in Mexico City, Sept. 18, 2025.

Why USMCA May Survive After All

USMCA review will test politics and economic realities. Preserving North American integration remains the least costly path forward, an expert writes.

Members of the Venezuelan diaspora call for the release of political prisoners outside the U.S. embassy in Bogota on January 19, 2026.

The Way Forward For Venezuela

A successful transition will depend on investment, who leads the military, and more.

The Trump Doctrine

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.