Devastating wildfires have spread rapidly across the region, most notably in Chile, Argentina, and Colombia, says the Guardian. The climate crisis has caused some governments to increase funding for disaster prevention and response mechanisms, though critics argue that implementation of these programs has been lackluster and that funding is not enough. Some of these challenges come from the federalist nature of countries themselves; in Argentina, for example, “some regions have not properly implemented fire-management protocols, meaning in some cases it is not clear to which authority central government is supposed to distribute funds.” In Chile, there is also a lack of fire-related regulations in construction designs for buildings, affecting urban areas.
Denying the existence of climate change—as claimed by Argentina’s President, Javier Milei—also poses a major challenge in preventing natural disasters, as governments roll back environmental legislation and restrict funding for climate-related crises.
The most recent wildfires in Chile have killed at least 131 people and devastated various neighborhoods in the Valparaíso region. With over 3,000 homes having been destroyed by the disaster, locals are now struggling to find food and water, as well as figuring out how to protect their remaining possessions from looters attempting to take advantage of the situation, reports ABC. Climate scientist Raúl Cordero noted that “Despite an early warning system…some residents ignored an evacuation order because of concerns for the security of their homes,” says the Guardian.
Regional
The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) recently published its monthly Regional Overview for Latin America and the Caribbean, with particular focus on increasing political tensions in Bolivia, the targeting of local elected officials in Colombia, and the repression of Nicaraguan dissidents, in addition to incidents in Ecuador, Haiti, and Mexico.
Celina Realuyo argues in a recent Atlantic Council issue brief that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been expanding its “economic footprint in the region in the emerging technologies and critical infrastructure arenas,” becoming a key trading partner for many countries and controlling an important part of regional telecommunications infrastructure. Realuyo also argues that Russia has been increasing foreign influence operations, particularly through the spread of disinformation, that has helped inflame protests across the hemisphere, especially in Chile and Colombia.
Juan Gonzalez, National Security Council senior director for the Western Hemisphere and President Biden’s top Latin America adviser, will be leaving his position mid-March, reports Bloomberg. Gonzalez was key in designing the Biden administration’s policies towards Venezuela, especially on the issue of sanctions, as well as his work on “strengthening economic and security cooperation with Mexico and Canada.” He will be replaced by Daniel Erikson, current deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere.
Though watchdog agencies are crucial to keep competition and innovation in line, political influence in such agencies can “hinder their functioning or even threaten their existence,” write Rupprecht Podszu and Juan David Gutiérrez in El País. “Abolishing or significantly debilitating competition agencies is a measure that comes close to abolishing free markets,” they argue, citing three recent examples in Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina of each country’s leader’s efforts to significantly reduce the role of these agencies.
Asia has begun to play a more prominent role in the drug trafficking industry, as the sector grows more and more globalized, reports Americas Quarterly. Certain Asian markets, especially India and China, even go so far as to provide the precursor chemicals used in drug production processes themselves.
“The historic commercial pulse between the ports of Buenos Aires and Montevideo has taken a sudden turn in the last week due to a decision by the Government of Javier Milei clearly favorable to Uruguayan interests. After ten years of intricate negotiations with Argentina and a series of its own mistakes, Uruguay has finally been authorized to dredge the entrance channel to the port of Montevideo up to 14 meters,” reports El País.
Paraguay
Senators from the ruling Colorado Party and allies are looking to remove opposition senator Kattya González from office for “improper use of influence.” González is currently on a hunger strike against the Government of President Santiago Peña to “demand that Peña and the ruling party's legislators desist from any attempt at constitutional reform or amendment that would open the possibility of a presidential re-election,” reports El Diario.
The move has received criticism from opposition figures and independents; it is mafia-like, according to Senator Yolanda Paredes. (Ultima Hora, El Diario)
Mexico
A new route for the US to sell natural gas to Asia through Mexico will be ready to be used as soon as next year, according to the New York Times. The Energía Costa Azul gas terminal in Mexico is currently undergoing a $2 billion transformation in order to become “an export facility for American-produced gas.”
Mexico’s total energy output from clean sources has been in decline, reaching a 20-year low in 2023, reports Reuters. Last year, the country’s emissions also increased to its highest level in 5 years.
El Salvador
Will Freeman argues in Americas Quarterly that Bukele’s first term, successful in curbing gang activity and street violence at the expense of civil liberties, spurred his recent reelection, though Bukele will need to jumpstart El Salvador’s economy to maintain his high levels of public support.
In the Latin America Risk Report, James Bosworth notes four possible reasons for why Bukele may have stolen an election he legitimately won.
Argentina
“The former president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, reappeared this Wednesday with a harsh working document on the debt crisis in Argentina, in which she launched strong criticism of the Government for dollarization,” reports Ámbito.
Despite campaigning on dollarization, the Milei government has shown “no sign of moving forward with the reform,” says Infobae.
Venezuela
Venezuela’s Maduro government and Chavismo are intensifying their repression of opposition and independent voices as this year’s presidential election lurches closer (with an election date not yet confirmed), according to El País.
Venezuela’s recent troop buildup near its border with Guyana is saber-rattling meant to distract from domestic issues such as Maduro’s breaking of the Barbados agreement, says James Bosworth at World Politics Review.