Latin America Brief

A one-stop weekly digest of politics, economics, technology, and culture in Latin America. Delivered Friday.

Sunbathers enjoy Macumba Beach, in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro, during a heat wave, on Sept. 24.
Sunbathers enjoy Macumba Beach, in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro, during a heat wave, on Sept. 24.

South America’s Scorching Spring Has Arrived

But only some countries have turned up their climate ambition.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 19.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 19.

Who Should Lead the Global South?

At the United Nations, Lula makes the case for Brazil.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Images of late Chilean President Salvador Allende and his wife, Hortensia Bussi, are projected on the facade of La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago, Chile.
Images of late Chilean President Salvador Allende and his wife, Hortensia Bussi, are projected on the facade of La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago, Chile.

Chile’s Coup Is No Longer Taboo

While international backers of Pinochet’s 1973 takeover increasingly admit blame, Chile’s resurgent far right is bringing defense of dictatorship back into the mainstream.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arévalo celebrates the results of the presidential runoff election in Guatemala City.
Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arévalo celebrates the results of the presidential runoff election in Guatemala City.

How the Opposition Won Guatemala’s ‘Free but Unfair’ Election

The Seed Movement got lucky, but it also made its own luck.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
A reflection in a window shows the silhouette of a man looking at the ocean transposed with the flags of BRICS countries (China, India, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil) during the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting.
A reflection in a window shows the silhouette of a man looking at the ocean transposed with the flags of BRICS countries (China, India, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil) during the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting.

South America Is Upping Its Bet on BRICS

Undeterred by Western pressure, a record number of countries want to join the group ahead of the annual summit.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attends the Amazon summit in Belém, Brazil.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attends the Amazon summit in Belém, Brazil.

Lula’s Rainforest Diplomacy Debut

Brazil’s Amazon summit featured both cooperation and contradiction among the world’s forest-rich countries.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
A demonstrator wearing a cap and t-shirt holds up a box that mimics a movie camera with stickers that read "Fake News" and the symbol of the TV Globo during a protest in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
A demonstrator wearing a cap and t-shirt holds up a box that mimics a movie camera with stickers that read "Fake News" and the symbol of the TV Globo during a protest in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Inside Latin America’s Fake News Problem

Online trolls from both sides of the political spectrum are outfoxing social media platforms.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Bia Zaneratto of Brazil celebrates with teammate Ary Borges after scoring her team’s third goal during a match between Brazil and Panama during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Adelaide, Australia, on July 24.
Bia Zaneratto of Brazil celebrates with teammate Ary Borges after scoring her team’s third goal during a match between Brazil and Panama during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Adelaide, Australia, on July 24.

A High-Dollar, Highly Outspoken Women’s World Cup

Latin American players push for free expression and equal pay at this year’s tournament.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen put their hands together for a picture after a press conference at the end of the EU-CELAC summit in Brussels.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen put their hands together for a picture after a press conference at the end of the EU-CELAC summit in Brussels.

Europe and Latin America Pledge Partnership Over Polarization

At a summit in Brussels, the EU and CELAC committed to deepening business and political ties.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Oil pipelines and storage facilities are seen at the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling field in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina, on Feb. 15.
Oil pipelines and storage facilities are seen at the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling field in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina, on Feb. 15.

Argentina Steps on the Gas

The completion of a major pipeline is part of a shift in the region’s energy map—and its politics.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to members of the media in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to members of the media in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Latin America’s Week of Electoral Verdicts

Rulings on elections in Brazil, Guatemala, and Venezuela have shaken up the status quo.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Bernardo Arévalo, presidential candidate for Guatemala’s Seed Movement party, celebrates the results of the first round of the election outside the Presidential Palace in Guatemala City on June 26.
Bernardo Arévalo, presidential candidate for Guatemala’s Seed Movement party, celebrates the results of the first round of the election outside the Presidential Palace in Guatemala City on June 26.

Guatemala’s Surprising Election

Undetected by pollsters, a TikTok-savvy anti-corruption candidate made the country’s presidential runoff.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
An aerial view of brine ponds and processing areas of the lithium mine run by Chilean company SQM in the Atacama Desert in Calama, Chile, on Sep. 12, 2022.
An aerial view of brine ponds and processing areas of the lithium mine run by Chilean company SQM in the Atacama Desert in Calama, Chile, on Sep. 12, 2022.

Chile Details Its National Lithium Strategy

The country’s moves are being closely watched amid the global scramble for critical minerals.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Colombian President Gustavo Petro (left) and National Liberation Army (ELN) commander Antonio García (right) exchange documents next to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel (center) at the closing of the third round of peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN in Havana on June 9.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro (left) and National Liberation Army (ELN) commander Antonio García (right) exchange documents next to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel (center) at the closing of the third round of peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN in Havana on June 9.

Inside Petro’s Peace Experiment

Colombia announced plans for a major cease-fire with guerrillas. Will it hold?

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, both wearing face masks, attend a ceremony to commemorate 500 years of Indigenous resistance in 2021.
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, both wearing face masks, attend a ceremony to commemorate 500 years of Indigenous resistance in 2021.

Mexico’s Succession Race Kicks Off

AMLO’s party is riding high—but hasn’t yet picked a nominee for next year’s election.

Latin America Brief
Catherine Osborn
Load 10 More Articles

Latest

The Biden Administration Is Addicted to Partnerships

EU Foreign Ministers Make Historic Kyiv Trip

Biden’s Signature Achievement Needs to Go Global

The Land of Lederhosen, Beer, and Political Chaos

Will China’s Elite Ever Rise Up?
See All Stories
Loading graphics