35 West

It has been nearly three months since Operation Absolute Resolve and so much has happened in Venezuela. Under pressure from the United States, the country’s interim authorities, led by Delcy Rodriguez, have pushed through a raft of legislation, such as a reform to the hydrocarbons law, an amnesty law, and they are now working on a reform to the country’s mining laws. The United States still controls the international marketing and sale of Venezuela’s oil, supervising the spending of the country’s revenues. Several cabinet-level officials from the United States have visited Caracas, and some oil and gas companies are signing deals. Both sides have stated their intention to reestablish relations, and the United States has reopened its embassy in Caracas. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Rafael de la Cruz, Director of the Office of María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia in the United States. Together, they discuss political developments within Venezuela and the opposition's strategy for continuing to push forward a democratic transition. They also explore the country's first steps towards recovery and what steps are necessary to rebuild the Venezuelan economy.

On February 1, Costa Rica held elections to determine its next president. The vote ushered in a new political phase amid economic pressures, public dissatisfaction with traditional parties, and growing regional security challenges. The outcome of these elections carries implications not only for Costa Rica’s domestic governance, but also for democratic trends throughout Central America, regional economic cooperation, and bilateral relations with the United States. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Kevin Casas, the Secretary General of International IDEA, former Vice President of Costa Rica and an expert on democratic governance, political institutions, and international affairs. Together, the two discuss the election results, President-elect Laura Fernández' agenda for governance, and what the election means for Costa Rica's regional relations. They also delve into some of the key issues Fernández will face in office, ranging from economic growth priorities, to rising concerns over crime and violence, to relations with the Trump administration in the United States.

This episode of 35 West originally aired on February 23, 2024. As the war in Ukraine passes four years of high-intensity fighting, Latin American foreign fighters are playing an increasingly key role. Recent estimates suggest that as many as 7,000 Colombians are fighting on behalf of Ukraine, while thousands of Cubans are present in Russia's ranks. Within this context, CSIS is re-releasing this special episode of 35 West. In this Best of 35 West episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, sat down with Elizabeth M.F. Grasmeder, Adjunct Professor of National Security Policy with Duke University, and Andrei Serbin Pont, Executive Director of CRIES-LAC, for a conversation on X (formerly Twitter) about the role of foreign fighters from LAC on both sides in Ukraine. Together, they unpacked the motivations of fighters for joining both Ukraine and Russia, why Moscow and Kyiv have turned to recruiting foreign fighters, and the broader implications of war in Ukraine for Latin American countries.

This episode of 35 West originally aired on January 12, 2024. En esta edición especial en español, Christopher Hernández-Roy, Director Adjunto y Senior Fellow del Programa sobre las Américas, conversa con Yaxys Cires, Director de Estrategia del Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos sobre los resultados del último Examen Periódico Universal de Cuba del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas.  Analizan la dicotomía entre la retórica gubernamental y la triste realidad de los derechos humanos en Cuba así como la profunda crisis económica que atraviesa la isla y cómo el régimen de Díaz-Canel ha respondido a estas presiones. In this special Spanish-language episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow with the Americas Program, sits down with Yaxys Cires, Director of Strategy at the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights to discuss the recent United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review of Cuba.  They discuss the dichotomy between the government’s rhetoric and the sad reality of Cuba's human rights record. They also discuss the mounting economic crisis facing the island and how the Díaz-Canel government has responded to these pressures. 

Mexico has experienced record levels of foreign direct investment in recent years, as the drive for supply chain security has created a boom in interest in Mexico’s manufacturing sector. Yet, when measured overall, investment is down in Mexico. Two issues stand out as driving investment decline: uncertainty around fiscal governance and tax regulation enforcement. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Denise Dresser, Senior Associate with the Americas Program at CSIS and professor of political science at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM). Together they discuss how changes to Mexico's regulatory, and particularly tax environment are undermining investor confidence and contributing to broader concerns related to the upcoming 2026 Joint Review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. They also explore the ways in which tax policy intersects with the issues Mexico faces over judicial independence, insecurity, and diplomatic tensions with both the United States and Canada.

Separatism has been a recurring but minority political current in the Canadian province of Alberta. It tends to surge during periods of high federal–provincial tension, especially when federal policies are seen as constraining Alberta’s energy sector, such as carbon pricing, environmental regulations, or pipeline approvals. Recent political developments in Canada and certain phenomena that parts of Canada share with the United States, have breathed some new life into this movement. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Randy Boissonnault, a former Member of Canada’s Parliament representing Edmonton Centre, Alberta’s capital. Together they delve into the history of Alberta Separatism and the recent factors that have seen the movement capture national attention both in Canada and the United States.

Luigi Einaudi, a seasoned diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to the OAS, dives into the complexities of U.S. military intervention in Panama in 1989 and its implications for Venezuela today. He highlights the significant political legacy of the Panama Canal and the chaotic rise of Noriega, drawing parallels to Maduro’s regime. Einaudi discusses the potential costliness of intervention in Venezuela, citing armed groups and civilian risks, while reflecting on the OAS's challenges in promoting democratic norms amidst Cuban influence.

In this conversation, Alexandra Winkler, a non-resident senior associate with the CSIS Americas Program and former deputy mayor of El Atillo, shares her firsthand experiences from Oslo during María Corina Machado's Nobel ceremony. Alexandra highlights Machado's dramatic journey from Venezuela, her significance as an opposition leader, and the impactful message she conveyed to Venezuelans. They delve into the importance of the Nobel Prize in shedding light on Venezuela's democracy struggle and what Machado's return could mean for the movement.

On October 19, Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira won the presidency in Bolivia, bringing an end to the rule of the Movimiento al Socialismo, or MAS party which had long dominated the country's politics. While the MAS defeat captured headlines, President-elect Pereira faces a difficult path ahead, facing major economic as well as security challenges. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Eduardo Gamarra, Professor of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University. Together, they discuss Pereira's path to the presidency, the economic state of Bolivia, and the evolution of the country's challenges with organized crime and narcotrafficking. They also analyze the future of Bolivia-U.S. relations which have shown signs of warming under the new government.

Aileen Teague, a former Marine Corps officer and author specializing in U.S.-Mexico drug policy, joins the discussion to unpack the current U.S. approach to counter-narcotics and its shift towards designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations. She delves into how the Trump administration's policies marked a departure from previous military restraint, the impacts of NAFTA on illicit trade, and the complicated history of militarized policing in Mexico. Teague emphasizes the need for building trust and exploring alternatives to military force in future U.S.-Mexico dynamics.