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CLINTON presses U.S. agenda DURING SIX-NATION latin america TRIP
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (left, with Costa Rican President-elect Laura Chinchilla) concluded a six-nation tour of Latin America last week, which many observers viewed as an opportunity to renew the Obama administration's engagement with the region. Clinton’s trip broached many pressing regional and global issues, including restoring aid to Honduras’ new government, providing assistance to Chile as it recovers from an 8.8-magnitude earthquake, urging Brazil to support U.N. sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, and combating drug trafficking in Central America.
In an article for Foreign Policy, Michael Shifter identified "underlying frictions and misunderstandings" clouding U.S.-Latin American relations. Shifter commented on Clinton’s trip in various media outlets, including Agence France Presse, the Los Angeles Times, and The Christian Science Monitor; he also appeared on segments for CSPAN and the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer to analyze U.S. foreign policy in Latin America in the context of the Secretary’s visit.
"The Crisis in Honduras," Michael Shifter. Testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. July 10, 2009. (Video)
At rio group summit, latin american leaders form oas alternative
Latin American and Caribbean leaders gathered in Playa del Carmen, Mexico on February 22 for a two-day Rio Group summit, where they announced the formation of a new regional organization that would exclude the United States and Canada, providing an alternative to the Organization of American States.
cHinchilla Clinches First-Round victory in Costa Rica
Fending off a late surge by her closest opponents, Laura Chinchilla of the National Liberation Party was elected Costa Rica's first female president on February 7, becoming Latin America's sixth woman to be elected president of her country. She captured 47% of the vote, defeating Ottón Solís of the Citizen Action Party who received 25% of the vote and Otto Guevarra of the Libertarian Movement who came in third with 21%. The Latin America Advisorpublished a Q&A on Chinchilla's presidential prospects, and the Dialogue's Michael Lisman was interviewed in El Proceso and El Informador. Michael Shifter discussed the results on Voice of America.
chavez's challenges in Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez faces a number of challenges to his popularity as his government prepares for legislative elections in September, including a countrywide electricity shortage, high inflation and recent protests over the closure of opposition television station RCTV. Michael Shifter commented for media outlets including the Associated Press, Reuters, Fox News, and PBS' Newshour. Dialogue senior fellow Genaro Arriagada contributed an analysis to Chile’s La Tercera. US Ambassador to Venezuela Patrick Duddy spoke at a Dialogue event with other ambassadors to the Andean region on January 22.
LOBO Takes office in HONDURAS
President Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo assumed office on January 27, ending months of political uncertainty in the wake of Honduras’ presidential coup last June. The Dialogue has offered comprehensive coverage of the ongoing political developments there, and its experts have weighed in on the changing of the guard this month. Michael Shifter was quoted in the Financial Times, La Nación, Bloomberg News, and The Wall Street Journal. The Dialogue hosted Ambassador Hugo Llorens for a discussion on the political outlook in Honduras, and the Latin America Advisor published a Q&A on the prospects for Lobo’s legitimacy.
Haiti: dialogue expert analysis
After the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, Dialogue experts got to work providing their analysis. Dan Erikson published articles in Foreign Policy, Sphere, and CNN. Manuel Orozco wrote about migrant remittances to Haiti in the earthquake's aftermath in America Economia and was interviewed on NPR's Kojo Nnambi Show. Michael Shifter was quoted by the Wall Street Journal, AFP, and more.
2010: The year ahead
This year promises to be one of general—albeit uneven—economic recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean, with some countries pulling ahead and others left behind. Moreover, presidential elections in countries like Chile, Brazil and Colombia could yield some surprises. The Latin America Advisor recently published its annual forecast, which included a Q+A on the prospects for U.S.-Latin American relations with comments from Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela and Dialogue president Peter Hakim, among others. Dialogue fellow Paul Isbell wrote a short piece for Infolatam arguing that in 2010 Brazil’s president could become a key broker on global climate change talks. In a forthcoming edition of AmericaEconomia, Peter Hakim and Michael Shifter will take a look at the issues that will dominate global and Latin American politics in 2010. Stay tuned.
The dialogue's 2009 year in review
As 2009 comes to a close, the Dialogue sat down with staff, including Peter Hakim, Michael Shifter, Dan Erikson, Jeff Puryear, and visiting fellow Aurea Molto, to review the significant events of the year and forecast challenges that might lay ahead. Watch the interview with Peter Hakim in its entirety here.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (left, with Costa Rican President-elect Laura Chinchilla) concluded a six-nation tour of Latin America last week, which many observers viewed as an opportunity to renew the Obama administration's engagement with the region. Clinton’s trip broached many pressing regional and global issues, including restoring aid to Honduras’ new government, providing assistance to Chile as it recovers from an 8.8-magnitude earthquake, urging Brazil to support U.N. sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, and combating drug trafficking in Central America. 
Latin American and Caribbean leaders gathered in Playa del Carmen, Mexico on February 22 for a two-day Rio Group summit, where they announced the formation of a new regional organization that would exclude the United States and Canada, providing an alternative to the Organization of American States.
Fending off a late surge by her closest opponents, Laura Chinchilla of the National Liberation Party was elected Costa Rica's first female president on February 7, becoming Latin America's sixth woman to be elected president of her country. She captured 47% of the vote, defeating Ottón Solís of the Citizen Action Party who received 25% of the vote and Otto Guevarra of the Libertarian Movement who came in third with 21%. The Latin America Advisor 
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez faces a number of challenges to his popularity as his government prepares for legislative elections in September, including a countrywide electricity shortage, high inflation and recent protests over the closure of opposition television station RCTV. Michael Shifter commented for media outlets including the 
President Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo assumed office on January 27, ending months of political uncertainty in the wake of Honduras’ presidential coup last June. The Dialogue has offered 
After the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, Dialogue experts got to work providing their analysis. Dan Erikson published articles in 
This year promises to be one of general—albeit uneven—economic recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean, with some countries pulling ahead and others left behind. Moreover, presidential elections in countries like Chile, Brazil and Colombia could yield some surprises. The 