As Latin America Shifts Left, Leaders Face a Short Honeymoon

THE NEW YORK TIMES: All six of the region’s largest economies could soon be run by presidents elected on leftist platforms. Their challenge? Inflation, war in Europe and growing poverty at home.

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — In Chile, a tattooed former student activist won the presidency with a pledge to oversee the most profound transformation of Chilean society in decades, widening the social safety net and shifting the tax burden to the wealthy.

In Peru, the son of poor farmers was propelled to victory on a vow to prioritize struggling families, feed the hungry and correct longstanding disparities in access to health care and education.

In Colombia, a former rebel and longtime legislator was elected the country’s first leftist president, promising to champion the rights of Indigenous, Black and poor Colombians, while building an economy that works for everyone.

“A new story for Colombia, for Latin America, for the world,” he said in his victory speech, to thunderous applause.

After years of tilting rightward, Latin America is hurtling to the left, a watershed moment that began in 2018 with the election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico and could culminate with a victory later this year by a leftist candidate in Brazil, leaving the region’s six largest economies run by leaders elected on leftist platforms.

A combination of forces have thrust this new group into power, including an anti-incumbent fervor driven by anger over chronic poverty and inequality, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic and have deepened frustration among voters who have taken out their indignation on establishment candidates. » | Julie Turkewitz, Mitra Taj and John Bartlett | Sunday, July 31, 2022

A World Away from Ukraine, Russia Is Courting Latin America

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Ukraine crisis has revived a struggle over Latin America between the U.S. and Russia, as Vladimir V. Putin seeks greater influence in the region.

An aerial view above Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in October. | Lucas Dumphreys/Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO — In the midst of his brinkmanship over neighboring Ukraine in recent weeks, President Vladimir V. Putin has also been busy trying to expand Russia’s influence thousands of miles away: in Latin America.

He spoke to Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua’s strongman president, for the first time since 2014. He also called the leaders of Venezuela and Cuba. He hosted the president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, who vowed during a Kremlin visit to reduce his country’s reliance on the United States.

And on Wednesday — the same day that American officials have said could be the start of a Russian invasion — Mr. Putin is scheduled to meet with President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. Mr. Bolsonaro is flying to Moscow despite repeated entreaties from American officials in recent weeks that he postpone his trip as the West scrambles to pressure Mr. Putin over Ukraine.

The flurry of personal diplomacy directed at Latin America by Mr. Putin during the most high-stakes period of his tenure often builds on ties that go back to the Cold War and sheds light on the global nature of his ambitions: to exert influence even on faraway regions. He is stepping up engagement and building ties to an expanding swath of the Western Hemisphere — including to countries, like Brazil and Argentina, that have traditionally been close to Washington. » | Jack Nicas and Anton Troianovski | Tuesday, February 15, 2022

More Than One Million Dead in Latin America as Variants Spread | Covid-19 Special

Aug 2, 2021 • Experts say Latin America is fast becoming the new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than one million people there have died.

The only exception is Chile, where 80 percent of the population are fully vaccinated. Otherwise, health systems are struggling to cope. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of nearly 200,000 people in Peru, where the vaccination campaign is only slowly getting underway. Just 16 percent of the population are completely inoculated. The country is battling several coronavirus variants.

Colombia is experiencing one of the longest peaks of infection since the coronavirus arrived in the country. This third spike has put the national medical system to the test. Quarantine measures have been struggling to strengthen an already strained system. ICUs in the country's second largest city Medellín are over 95 percent occupied. Doctors insist the national model of pandemic care has failed.

A Quarter of Global COVID-19 Deaths Have Been in Latin America | COVID-19 Special

Jul 8, 2021 • A quarter of the world's coronavirus deaths have been in Latin America. A third of new infections are happening in the region - a region where just three percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

In some countries people blame their governments - for making the wrong moves, or making them too late. Poverty, too, is playing its part, making social distancing impossible. Healthcare systems are overwhelmed and economies are shrinking.

So what hope is there for Latin America?

Cuba to Build First Mosque as Muslim Population Grows

DAILY TRUST: The city of Havana is set to build Cuba’s first mosque, touted to be one of the largest in Latin America, as its Muslim population continues to grow.

Since 2015, when the government authorized that Cuba’s about 10,000 Muslims should have a place of worship, they have been congregating in a building space in downtown Havana for prayers, where copies of the Quran in both Spanish and Arabic are abundant. The new mosque is set to be built in Old Havana. » | telesurtv.net | Friday, February 24, 2017

Latin America Leaders Condemn Trump's Mexico Wall

Latin American leaders have condemned US President Donald Trump's executive order to start building the US-Mexico wall.

They are meeting with Caribbean leaders in the Dominican Republic for an annual summit and the Trump administration's ‘America first’ policies are high on the agenda.

Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman reports from Punta Cana.

As Hugo Chavez Fights for His Life, Cuba Fears for Its Future
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Venezuela is not the only Latin American nation that is monitoring every moment of president Hugo Chavez's illness. His ally Cuba has relied on him for economic help, and that could soon come to an end.

Away from the constitutional wrangles and impassioned crowds of Caracas, the future of Venezuela after Hugo Chavez is being plotted this weekend in an elegant pre-revolutionary mansion in Havana's old playboy quarter.

The firebrand Venezuelan president is fighting for his life in a nearby hospital, stricken by severe respiratory problems and a lung infection after his latest round of surgery for cancer.

His illness left him unable to be sworn in for his fourth term as president last Thursday, having won a close-fought election in October.

But for his Cuban hosts, much more is at risk than simply the loss of a fellow left-wing Latin American radical who has long venerated Fidel Castro. His death would also put at risk the remarkable oil-fuelled largesse that has allowed Cuba to cling to its experiment in tropical communism.

Thanks to the close personal relationship between Mr Chavez and Mr Castro, energy-rich Venezuela supplies more than 100,000 barrels of dirt-cheap oil a day to Cuba - an estimated 50 per cent of the island's petroleum needs.

Venezuela also hires tens of thousands of Cuban doctors and teachers to work in its barrio slums, propping up the Cuban economy to the tune of some $6 billion a year in total. Without that subsidy, Havana would have long ago been forced to introduce market reforms to its communist regime. » | Philip Sherwell, and Andrew Hamilton in Havana | Saturday, January 12, 2013

Who's on the Plane with the Pope?

Related »

Inside Story: Is Latin America Losing Its faith?
As Pope Benedict XVI makes his first-ever visit to the region we ask what are the challenges facing the Catholic church.

Fast abgehoben: Westerwelle mit Lebensgefährten Michael Mronz auf dem Rollfeld des Flughafens Berlin-Tegel. Bild: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Guido Westerwelle: Reisebegleiter und mehr
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Außenminister Westerwelle hat am Samstag seine bislang längste Auslandsreise begonnen: Chile, Argentinien, Uruguay und Brasilien will er binnen einer Woche besuchen und damit Lateinamerika zu einem Schwerpunkt seiner Außenpolitik machen. In Deutschland wird dem Vizekanzler und FDP-Vorsitzenden vorgeworfen, unsensibel dienstliche Verbindungen mit parteipolitischen und privaten verquickt zu haben.

Auch auf der Reise nach Südamerika begleiteten ihn als Teil der Wirtschaftsdelegation alte Bekannte, darunter auch ein Unternehmer, der vor fünf Jahren der FDP 48.000 Euro gespendet haben soll. Die Opposition fordert Aufklärung, nachdem die Zeitschrift „Der Spiegel“ schrieb, dass FDP-Spender offizielle Reisebegleiter des Außenministers seien. Die Öffentlichkeit müsse beurteilen können, „ob es hier unzulässige Zusammenhänge und Einflussnahmen gegeben hat“, sagte der Parlamentarische Geschäftsführer der Grünen Beck. Sogar die Grenze von „Amtsmissbrauch“ erreicht sieht der stellvertretende Fraktionsvorsitzende der Linkspartei im Bundestag, Maurer. Kritik aus der Opposition >>> Von Wulf Schmiese | Sonntag, 07. März 2010

Latin America Backs Argentina in Falklands Row with Britain
TIMES ONLINE: Argentina was celebrating a diplomatic coup today after winning the backing of Latin American countries in an escalating dispute with Britain over oil drilling in the Falklands.

Thirty-two heads of state and government from Latin America and the Caribbean agreed at a summit in Mexico to support "the legitimate rights of the republic of Argentina in the sovereignty dispute with Great Britain".

That represented a victory for President Kirchner and her bid to halt what it says is "illegal" oil and gas exploration in the South Atlantic archipelago it claims as its own.

Almost three decades on from the short but bloody 1982 conflict which saw Britain repel an Argentine invasion of the islands, tensions between the two former adversaries are once again on the rise with the installation of a British oil rig, the Ocean Guardian, 100 miles from the Falklands coastline.

The rig, contracted to Britain's Desire Petroleum, yesterday began drilling beneath the seabed amid hopes of a black gold rush that could transform the economic prospects of the isolated, barren islands.

In Argentina, where Mrs Kirchner has made the recovery of the islands a key theme of her presidency, the drilling has revived long-simmering resentments at what is perceived as a foreign "occupation".

Last week, Mrs Kirchner moved to obstruct supplies to the oil operations, imposing shipping controls requiring all maritime traffic through Argentine-claimed waters to the Falklands to seek authorisation from Buenos Aires.

Amid an intensifying transatlantic war of words, Mrs Kirchner moved to dispel speculation over possible conflict, however, insisting after the meeting that Argentina would not blockade the islands but instead pursue "legal" options to halt the exploration.

Speaking after securing the declaration at the summit in Playa del Carmen, Ms Kirchner said that winning such strong backing in the territorial dispute was an important development. >>> Hannah Strange | Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Obama Offers Cuba 'New Beginning'
BBC: President Barack Obama has said the US seeks a "new beginning" with Cuba and an "equal partnership" with all the nations of the Americas.

Mr Obama was addressing Latin American and Caribbean leaders at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

The summit follows a historic thaw in relations between the US and Cuba.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed an offer for talks from Cuban President Raul Castro, saying the old US policy had failed.

New beginning

"The US seeks a new beginning with Cuba," Mr Obama told leaders gathered in Port of Spain.

"I know there is a longer journey that must be travelled to overcome decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day." >>> | Saturday, April 18, 2009

Watch BBC video: Obama seeks 'equal partnership' >>>

Islam Metastasizes!
SAUDI GAZETTE: SOME three-four million Muslims live in Latin America and over 50,000 of them are Hispanic. Majority of Muslims there have roots from Middle Eastern countries like Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. There are large Muslim populations in Brazil, Venezuela and Columbia. Mosques and prayer houses can be found in all major cities.

Islam in Latin America began with Muslim journeys to the continent even before the arrival of Columbus. Evidence of this early contact is based on world maps produced by Muslims in the early 16th century. Later, during the voyages of Columbus to the New World, some Muslim Moors are believed to have accompanied him, fleeing persecution in the Iberian Peninsula. In Brazil, the importation of African slaves during the colonial period accounted for a substantial influx of Muslims into the continent. Little is known whether these early Muslims were able to maintain their faith.

The Islamic influence on regional architecture and culture between 1600-1800 CE is still visible today in cities such as Lima, Cholula and Guatemala City. Lima, the capital of Peru, is famous for its Tapadas Limenas or Covered Women in Lima. During the 18th Century, there was uprising of Muslim slaves (Brazil 1835).

Since late 19th century, Arabs first began to immigrate from the Middle East to Latin America. The descendants of these immigrants are still found today in significant numbers. Further, emigrants from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine increased during the mid 20th Century after Israel’s occupation of Palestine and its surrounding areas. These Muslims were largely merchants and became influential in local trade. Many have even held leading positions in government. Growth of Islam in Latin America >>> By Dr. Mozammel Haque | Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>

Argentine Campaign Urges Catholics to Quit Church
REUTERS: BUENOS AIRES - In an effort to reduce the church's political influence, Argentine atheists and feminists are spearheading a drive to get people who were baptized Roman Catholic but disagree with the church's politics to formally renounce their faith.

The "Not in my Name" Internet campaign, also called Collective Apostasy, encourages people who are Catholic in name only to write to the bishops where they were baptized to officially register that they have left the church.

Latin America is home to about half of the world's Roman Catholics but many people who were baptized Catholic do not practice the religion.

"The church counts all those who've been baptized as Catholic and lobbies for legislation based on that number, so we're trying to convey the importance of people expressing that they no longer belong to the church," said campaigner Ariel Bellino, a member of an atheist group and a former Catholic.

Some 200 people signed onto the campaign on Monday, when it was first launched, and another 500 people signed up on Tuesday at www.apostasiacolectiva.org, Bellino said.

He said a similar drive was waged in Spain, where leftist movements have a historical anti-clerical streak, and in Chile.
Apostasy in the Roman Catholic Church is defined as the total and obstinate repudiation of the faith.

More than three-quarters of Argentina's 40 million residents define themselves as Catholic, according to a survey done by state researchers last year. But of that group, only about 20 percent say they regularly attend mass.

The country's relatively liberal social mores clash with Catholic doctrine on birth control, abstinence before marriage and homosexuality. The capital, Buenos Aires, was the first Latin American city to allow gay civil unions, back in 2003. >>> By Claudia Gaillard (Additional reporting by Hilary Burke; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) | Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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What Lurks Behind Iran's Close Relationship with Venezuela?
[T]he Iranian effort, which has been joined by Venezuela in a joint effort to establish a strong terror base in the region, is especially palpable in countries ruled by anti-American left wing regimes such as Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Nonetheless, Iran has also increased its presence in Mexico and Colombia, which are considered more U.S. friendly. The rate of the increase of Iranian personnel in Mexican and Colombian embassies were described by the New York sources as "astronomical" and as "not proportional with the embassies' local requirements." Some believe that this increase is in fact in preparation for subversive activity.

In an exclusive report on the Iran-Venezuela cooperation, published by news Website Newsmax, a study conducted by Israel's Foreign Ministry is quoted as saying that 30 Iranian diplomats were dispatched to Nicaragua. A similar number was dispatched to Venezuela and other Latin American countries. >>> Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent | Thursday, January 1, 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback & Hardback) – Free delivery >>>

Iran Forging Ties to Latin America
HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Bush policy of ignoring region must be reversed

Iran, the ultimate mischief maker with global reach, astounding patience, a shameless marriage to mayhem and terrorism and interests in opposition to those of the United States, is making major diplomatic inroads under Washington's nose.

It's amazing, really. Iran, after all, is regarded by much of the world as an outlaw country. Sanctions are in place on its military-industrial complex, and international loan guarantees are virtually impossible to come by.

The Iranian economy is in tatters. Even while $100-barrel-plus oil was enriching producers in the region, Iran's low-tech, outdated industry was barely profiting. In fact, 6 percent of the country's gasoline is imported.

Nevertheless, over the past year, Iran has worked diligently to expand relations with a host of Latin American countries, many of which have populist leaders who harbor a strong distrust of the United States and are looking for a powerful friend to help them rebuff Washington's influence.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, for instance, has held up his close ties with Iran as an example of what his revolution can do for the region. He has much to show for it, including an Iranian ammunition factory, a car assembly plant, a cement factory and other such examples of Iranian involvement. And just to make sure the U.S. can't interfere (as it has in the past), Iran Air initiated direct air service between Tehran, Damascus and Caracas. >>> By John Kiriakou Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle | November 15, 2008

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The Pope in Brazil

Photo of the Pope in Brazil courtesy of the BBC

BBC: Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo for a five-day visit to the world's most populous Roman Catholic nation.

It is his first visit to Latin America since becoming Pope in April 2005.

He is to perform a series of open air Masses before travelling to Aparecida for the focus of the visit, a major conference of Latin American bishops.

There he is expected to touch on the growing challenge the Catholic Church faces from evangelical groups.

Talking to journalists on the flight, the Pope said his main concern in the region was the loss of millions of disaffected Roman Catholics to evangelical churches. Pope arrives in Brazil for visit (more)

WATCH BBC VIDEO: Brazil’s [Roman] Catholic numbers down

Mark Alexander