CARICOM and Reparations
From Americas Quarterly / August 8, 2013
European governments were unlikely to be pleased to hear the call for reparations issued by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of state last month. The Caribbean countries jointly released a statement calling for forward action on a plan to pursue reparations for “repairing the damage inflicted by slavery and racism.” Is this really the best path forward to encourage development and future investment? more...
A New Day for US - Caribbean Relations
From Americas Quarterly / May 30, 2013
Vice President Joe Biden spent just under 24 hours in Trinidad and Tobago, where he sought to renew America’s bonds with the Caribbean through a small summit-like meeting with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic. In that short period of time, it became apparent that the traditional dynamic that has characterized the relationship between the Caribbean and the United States may be coming to an end. more...
The Significance of Trinidad & Tobago to the U.S.
From Americas Quarterly / May 23, 2013
Trinidad and Tobago, known more for Carnival and sandy beaches, is not often discussed in terms of its strategic importance to the United States. Yet there are several reasons that this small two-island nation appears on U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s itinerary for his trip to Latin America next week. After traveling to Brazil and Colombia, home to the two largest economies in South America, Biden will visit Port of Spain just over four years after President Barack Obama was in Trinidad for the 2009 Summit of the Americas. more...
Venezuela 2012
From Yale Journal of International Affairs / January 18, 2012
Perhaps the 2012 election that has the greatest potential to change the landscape of United States foreign policy is one that few Americans are paying attention to: Venezuela’s next presidential election, scheduled for October 7, 2012. Venezuela watchers are waiting to see if Hugo Chavez can once again scheme his way into another term in office or if the opposition, the finally unified Coalition for Democratic Unity (MUD), can defeat the defiantly anti-American president. The latter would not only be significant because of the socialist and anti-American foundation that has paved the way for Chavez to become one of the most influential leaders in Latin America. Considering the fact that many of the actions of the Chavez government conflict with US objectives; whether it be support for democratic institutions, the isolation of Iran, or fighting the drug war; the election of a Venezuelan president who is less preoccupied with opposing “the imperialists” could further American interests, not just in Latin America, but globally. more...
The Movement Against International Finance
From The Trinidad Guardian / May 2, 2013
At one time, a Caribbean nation stood at the front of a movement of small, developing nations trying to assert their place in the world.
This “non-aligned” movement, with Cuba taking the lead, stood in defiance of the great world powers who, at the time, demanded allegiance to either the capitalist American model of governance or the socialist Soviet model.
While the Cold War is over and the non-aligned movement has been relegated to an interesting footnote in history, it appears as though another coalition of small nations is attempting to voice its defiance of the influence wielded by the powerful of the world. And again, it appears as though a Caribbean nation is attempting to take the lead in this movement. more...
The Last Stand of Chavismo?
From Diplomatic Courier / April 12, 2013
Venezuela’s More Moderate Future after Hugo Chávez
Much will be written and said in the coming days and weeks about what the future of Venezuela, and Latin America for that matter, will look like following the death of Hugo Chávez. Can Chavismo survive without Chávez? Will the Venezuelan Court demand elections be called or will Vice President Nicolás Maduro retain power? If elections are called, can the opposition reorganize itself quickly enough to pose a serious challenge? While these and many other questions exist and remain to be answered, one can confidently assume that the Venezuela of the future will be a more moderate state than the current Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that Chávez leaves behind.
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Despite the rhetoric coming from the campaign trail in the next few months, the United States is still the major power player on the global stage. To be sure, American dominance is not what it used to be as serious power brokers, such as China, rise globally and growing powers, such as Brazil, rise in the Western Hemisphere. But the US is still the most powerful nation in the world. With that power often comes the expectation that the US should be the great force for peace and justice globally. If ‘American exceptionalism’ is still the modus operandi, then the US should be venturing to solve grand problems.
The Promise of Colombia
While much of the globe has been mired in an economic malaise, the simultaneous growth of Latin America has been well chronicled. Most of the attention given to Latin America’s rise has focused on Brazil, which recently surpassed Great Britain to become the world’s sixth largest economy. The attention has been justified given Brazil’s remarkable turnaround, its economic growth, potential growth, and forthcoming global spotlight by way of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Overlooked by many when examining the opportunities for growth that exist in Latin America is the promise of Colombia.
Why is Iran interested in Latin America?
In January of 2012, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad conducted a four nation tour of Latin America, with stops in Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Cuba and from the time that this trip became public, US government officials began asking “Why Latin America?”
In February, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing on the “Tour of Tyrants” and during his testimony, Dr. Jose Azel of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami rhetorically asked the question “What allows the Iranian theocracy, so removed from Latin America by ethnicity, customs and values, to play an increasingly influential role in this hemisphere?”
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