Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos got his neighbors in a flutter by hinting that he would like Colombia to join NATO, which conveys a message to the rest of South America – and not about geography.
In a recent report he claims Argentina has profited from a US-led clampdown on the Mexican drug cartels. They switched distribution routes via Argentina, which is now believed to supply 70 tons of cocaine a year to Europe, a thirds of annual consumption.
It is feared that Argentina’s ties with Iran could lead them to build missiles together
Argentina can no longer be seen as a reliable counter-narcotic partner, or a partner in any sense, for the US.
Douglas Farah, senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center think-tank
Argentina also imports far more ephedrine, used in the making of many designer drugs, than its pharmaceutical industry needs, despite a US attempt at a crackdown in 2008.
This is said to be behind a flood of methamphetamine reaching the US.
Brazil’s disappointing economy
Out of step (video below the fold since it starts immediately)
Colombia and the arms treaty with no legs to stand on
UN hails first deal between Colombian government, rebels
CUBA
Cuban Documentary Extols ETA Terrorists
Widow and children of assassinated Cuban dissident, Oswald Paya, take political refuge in U.S.
Cuban political prisoner Enrique Figuerola Miranda on hunger strike for 40 days
DOMINICA
Dominica Catholics vow support for accused priest
ECUADOR
NGOs will have new controls in Ecuador
GUATEMALA
Administrative issues at the OAS GA in Guatemala
LATIN AMERICA
Xi Jinping in America’s backyard
From pivot to twirl
The Chinese leader tries a smooth move in America’s backyard
The Pacific Alliance a New Center of Gravity in Hemispheric Trade
Mexico Soldiers Free 165 Kidnapped Migrants
Mexican soldiers stormed a residence near the U.S. border and rescued 165 migrants who had been kidnapped by criminal gangs and held for ransom for up to three weeks, a Mexican official said Thursday. The cartels control the border.
PANAMA
Central America’s low-cost life lures baby boomers, even from Bonita Springs
PUERTO RICO
How Puerto Rico Will Hack its Way to the Global Future
VENEZUELA
As Economy Stalls, Inflation Heats Up and Maduro Seems Clueless
María Lourdes Afiuni, Three and a half years, some rapes, beatings and a forced abortion later, has not yet been released.
Chavez’s Folksy Style Proves to Be a Tough Act to Follow
President Nicolás Maduro does a good political impersonation of his predecessor Hugo Chávez. However, he’s missing a key ingredient: Mr. Chávez’s folksy, often ribald, sense of humor. Not to worry, Gustavo Ríos more than makes up for it,
The week’s posts and podcast,
George Galloway’s racism
Venezuela: The kidnapping worked
Mexico: Retailers Descend on Mexico
Colombia: Bayly entrevista a Uribe, 2a parte
Venezuela: Timothy Tracy released
Colombia: Bayly entrevista a Uribe
Podcast:
Argentina and other US-Latin America issues
