Jeri’s Expreachment
Peruvian interim president José Jerí was ousted from office yesterday in an “express impeachment” after a political scandal over his secretive meetings with Chinese businessmen. Lawmakers are set to vote today to decide who will replace Jerí, ahead of Peru’s presidential elections schedule for April.
He is the sixth Peruvian president in the past decade to leave office before their term ended. Jerí was just four months in office, having been chosen to replace his impeached predecessor, Dilma Boluarte, who, in turn, took office after the ouster of her predecessor, President Pedro Castillo. (New York Times)
Jerí had become embroiled in a scandal dubbed “Chifagate” after security-camera footage emerged showing him in clandestine meetings with Chinese businessmen outside his official agenda, including one visit in which he appears to try to conceal his identity with a hooded top. (Guardian)
Despite a revolving door of presidents, Peru’s economy has remained stable, notes the Associated Press.
U.S. Strikes Again, Kills 11
The U.S. military announced it struck three more alleged drug boats in separate attacks that killed 11 men — a new uptick in strikes on the small vessels, which had decreased after the operation to oust Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, reports the Washington Post.
The military action on Monday brought the number of fatalities caused by US strikes to 145 since September. US Southern Command posted video to social media, showing this week’s strikes. Authorities insisted the boats transported drug-trafficking criminals but the video does not appear to provide information confirming this claim, reports the Guardian.
“The uptick in strikes has also coincided with the arrival of Marine Gen. Francis Donovan as the new head of U.S. Southern Command, following the departure of Rear Adm. Alvin Holsey, who left the typically three-year post after just a year in part due to differences with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the boat strike campaign.” (Washington Post)
Guatemala
Heavily armed Guatemalan troops and military police deployed to the country’s capital yesterday — part of the president’s Plan Sentinela to crackdown on urban gangs, after ending a one month state of emergency, reports AFP. (See yesterday’s post.)
Colombia
Colombia’s government has announced it will resume peace talks with the powerful Gulf Clan, also known as the Gaitanist Self-Defence Forces (ECG), after the criminal group expressed concern about a recent deal with the United States, reports Al Jazeera.
Cuba
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportely been holding secret talks Raul Castro’s grandson, according to Axios. The talks are bypassing official Cuban government channels and “show that the Trump administration sees the 94-year-old revolutionary as the communist island’s true decision-maker.”
Venezuela
Venezuelan authorities should take prompt measures to reform key judicial and electoral institutions and repeal abusive laws, Human Rights Watch said today, flagging the urgent need to cease repression, advance towards free and fair elections and restore the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
A proposed amnesty law for individuals detained for acts of political violence dating back to 1999, which is currently under discussion in the National Assembly, would require people to request amnesty before a court and would only benefit people detained “in the context” of specific events, such as the 2024 elections, and the 2017 and 2014 protests. Human Rights Watch notes that it would not ensure that everyone arbitrarily detained will be unconditionally released, and said its consideration should not be used as an excuse to delay political prisoner releases.
Traditional media outlets in Venezuela are cautiously expanding coverage after years of censorship under Nicolás Maduro — for example broadcasting comments by exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado — but journalists warn that repression and fear remains an obstacle to their work, reports the Miami Herald.
Cuba
In the midst of severe economic crisis and faced with an oil blockade, Cuba is trying to accelerate its energy transition in the hope of freeing itself from its dependence on fossil fuels — and China has emerged as a key partner in this green transition, reports the Guardian.
Regional Relations
Trump has invited Latin American leaders to a summit in Miami on March 7, a few weeks prior to the US president’s trip to Beijing. The confirmed guest list includes Javier Milei (Argentina), Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador), Nasry Asfura (Honduras), and Santiago Peña (Paraguay). The summit will focus on countering Chinese influence in the hemisphere. (Latin America Risk Report)
Mexico
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government will send a formal letter of complaint to officials in the United Kingdom after the wife of a former governor wanted for allegedly pilfering £4.8m of public money was granted asylum in Britain, reports the Guardian.
El Salvador
“Bitcoin’s crash has hit El Salvador hard, exposing the risks of President Nayib Bukele’s high-stakes embrace of crypto and whipsawing the country’s debt markets,” reports Bloomberg.
Argentina
Argentine maritime workers launched a 48-hour strike today, a protest against President Javier Milei’s proposed labor reform bill. (Reuters)
Regional
Countries where coffee beans are grown, worldwide, are becoming too hot to cultivate them because of climate breakdown, according to the findings of Climate Central. The worst-affected coffee producing country was El Salvador, which they calculated had 99 additional days with coffee-harming heat. Brazil, the world’s most important coffee producer, accounting for 37% of global production, had 70 additional days above 30C. (Guardian)
Critter Corner
The battle to save South America’s jaguars - Economist