Category: Americas
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Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared an “economic, financial, energy and social emergency”, arguing that the country can no longer continue “functioning with rules from the last 20 years”. The announcement unveiled sweeping reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and a shift towards a new exchange-rate regime, signalling a decisive break from two decades…
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Defence and security analyst Professor Michael Clarke assesses escalating US pressure on Venezuela following remarks by US President Donald Trump about a naval build-up and tougher enforcement of oil sanctions. Speaking to Sky News, Clarke explains how Venezuela continues to export oil despite sanctions, including through so-called “dark fleet” tankers, and why recent US seizures…
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US President Donald Trump has ordered what he described as a “total and complete” blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, sharply escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. The announcement follows a broader US military buildup in the Caribbean and Pacific regions near Venezuela, alongside recent enforcement actions against sanctioned shipping. Key developments:…
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, formalising a legal framework for US military and civilian defence personnel operating in Paraguay. The agreement clarifies the presence and activities of US forces, supporting closer bilateral and multinational cooperation across security and humanitarian…
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José Antonio Kast, a conservative former lawmaker, has won a decisive victory in Chile’s presidential election, signalling a sharp rightward shift driven by concerns over crime and immigration. With 99.9% of ballots counted, Chile’s electoral service said Kast secured 58.2% of the vote. Jeannette Jara, a Communist Party candidate representing the governing leftwing coalition, conceded…
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The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to ease a water dispute along the Texas border, following tariff threats from US President Donald Trump. Under the deal, Mexico will deliver an additional 202,000 acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande starting the week of 15 December, with a broader distribution plan to be…
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Chile will hold a runoff presidential election on Sunday (Dec. 14), with polls pointing to the country’s sharpest rightward shift since the end of military rule in 1990. Nearly 15.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote under mandatory voting rules introduced for this election. Key points • The runoff pits José Antonio Kast, founder…
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US President Donald Trump has signalled that the United States will soon begin land-based strikes to interdict narcotics shipments moving from Venezuela towards the US, expanding Washington’s pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking at the White House, Mr Trump said maritime drug trafficking had fallen sharply and warned that overland routes would be targeted…
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US President Donald Trump has intensified economic pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, following the seizure of a sanctions-hit oil tanker in the Caribbean and a new round of sanctions targeting Venezuela’s energy sector. Washington says the strategy aims to tighten financial constraints on Caracas without escalating to military action, amid domestic scrutiny over the…
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Mexico has approved tariffs of up to 50% on Chinese cars and selected imports, aligning with US President Donald Trump’s protectionist agenda as the USMCA trade deal faces review in 2026. The Senate backed the measure by 76–5, fast-tracking a levy that will apply to around 1,400 goods from countries without trade agreements with Mexico.…
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