Category: Americas
Coverage of geopolitics, international relations, and current affairs from across the Americas, including U.S. foreign policy, Latin American politics, trade, security, and cross-border diplomacy.
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World-renowned economist and public policy expert Professor Jeffrey Sachs criticised US President Donald Trump during the MSSc in Global Political Economy dialogue series hosted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Sachs argued that Trump’s leadership reflected deeper structural problems within the US political system, which he described as “deeply corrupted”. He questioned the functioning…
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended his decision to suspend trade talks with the US, arguing that Washington’s approach represents a shift away from decades of economic integration between the two countries. Speaking in Ottawa on Saturday (22 Aug), Carney said Canada had spent more than a year seeking a comprehensive agreement but concluded…
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Canada has announced it will match new US tariffs “dollar for dollar” after trade negotiations with the United States failed to reach an agreement over proposed levies on Canadian imports. Prime Minister Mark Carney said talks were suspended following “last-minute changes” that Ottawa considered unfair, while US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada had rejected…
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The US national debt has exceeded $40 trillion, according to US Treasury Department data, marking a record level as federal borrowing continues to rise. The increase comes despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to reduce government spending and improve the country’s fiscal position. Key developments: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has pledged to reduce the budget deficit…
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Peru has intensified operations against illegal gold mining in the Tambopata National Reserve and the wider Madre de Dios region, as authorities seek to curb deforestation, environmental damage and mining activity advancing into protected areas of the Amazon rainforest. Peruvian Navy Lt. Cmdr. Renato Miranda said the mission focused on destroying equipment essential to illegal…
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Venezuela’s interim government and opposition representatives have completed the first round of transition talks, describing the discussions as constructive and agreeing to continue negotiations aimed at democratic reform and national reconciliation. The dialogue follows the launch of formal talks earlier this month, with both sides seeking a roadmap for political transition. Authorities also announced the…
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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), also known as the “Shield of the Americas”, during a meeting of partner nations in Panama, where officials discussed coordinated efforts against transnational drug cartels. Representatives from 19 coalition members agreed to refine campaign plans, assign regional leadership roles…
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Thousands of people gathered in San José, Costa Rica, on Thursday (6 Aug) to demonstrate in support of judicial independence, amid growing tensions between the government and the Judiciary. The Plantón por la Justicia Democrática, supported by judicial unions, universities and social organisations, ended peacefully after more than four hours. The protests come amid wider…
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Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as President of Colombia in Cali on Friday (7 Aug), departing from the traditional inauguration in Bogotá to underline his focus on tackling illegal armed groups operating in the southwest. The former lawyer and businessman, who defeated Sen. Iván Cepeda in June’s runoff election, pledged to replace his…
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Peru and Mexico have agreed to restore diplomatic relations, ending a period of strained ties that followed a dispute over political asylum linked to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chavez. The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had granted Chavez safe-conduct to travel from the Mexican embassy in Lima to Mexico, while reserving the…