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Latin America

‘Show Us the Video’: Lawmakers Seek Transparency in Anti-Drug Boat Strikes

Walter Pincus

‘Show Us the Video’: Lawmakers Seek Transparency in Anti-Drug Boat Strikes

OPINION / FINE PRINT — “We have asked the Mexican government to also step up their involvement in stopping these cartels and stopping the huge amount [...] More

AmericasLatin AmericaWalter PincusFine Print

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Expert Q&A: The U.S. Takes On the Mexican Cartels

Ray Donovan

Expert Q&A: The U.S. Takes On the Mexican Cartels

EXPERT INTERVIEW — The Trump administration is prioritizing going after Mexican drug cartels as a key national security objective. It has designated [...] More

Alternative PerspectivesNorth AmericaLatin AmericaRay Donovan

In Hegseth Panama Visit, Reading the 'Untranslated' Comments

Walter Pincus

In Hegseth Panama Visit, Reading the 'Untranslated' Comments

OPINION — “Together with Panama in the lead, we will keep the canal secure and available for all nations through the deterrent power of the [...] More

Fine PrintLatin AmericaWalter Pincus
Trump Administration Says Narco-Trafficking is #1 Threat - and Tries All-Hands Approach to Stop It
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deep dive

Trump Administration Says Narco-Trafficking is #1 Threat - and Tries All-Hands Approach to Stop It

DEEP DIVE — When the U.S. intelligence community (IC) declared last week that the greatest danger to American national security is old-fashioned [...] More

Latin AmericaAmericasNorth AmericaReporting
What's Really Happening at the Panama Canal?
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expert interviews

What's Really Happening at the Panama Canal?

EXPERT INTERVIEWS — The Panama Canal has landed squarely in the national security conversation, thanks to a series of remarks by Donald Trump, who as [...] More

Latin AmericaAmericas

Expert Q&A: A Look at Biden's Last-Minute Cuba Deal

Ryan C. Berg

Expert Q&A: A Look at Biden's Last-Minute Cuba Deal

EXPERT INTERVIEW — In one of several eleventh-hour moves, President Joe Biden on Tuesday notified Congress of his intent to remove Cuba from a list [...] More

Alternative PerspectivesRyan C. BergNorth AmericaLatin America

A Dangerous Moment for Venezuela – and the Region 

Ambassador Patrick Duddy

A Dangerous Moment for Venezuela – and the Region 

EXPERT INTERVIEW — Nicolas Maduro is set to be inaugurated for his third term as president of Venezuela on Friday. He will be sworn in after a [...] More

Latin America
Memo to the 47th President: Latin America is About More Than Migrants
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memo to 47

Memo to the 47th President: Latin America is About More Than Migrants

MEMO TO THE PRESIDENT — Since Donald Trump's victory in the November 5 election, The Cipher Brief has covered the potential implications a second [...] More

Latin AmericaAmericasReporting

To Fight Fentanyl Traffic, U.S. Needs More Than Law Enforcement

Michael Vigil

To Fight Fentanyl Traffic, U.S. Needs More Than Law Enforcement

Cipher Brief COO Brad Christian spoke with Michael Vigil, former Chief of International Operations at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), [...] More

Latin AmericaNorth America
Can High-Profile Cartel Arrests Halt the Fentanyl Traffic? 
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deep dive

Can High-Profile Cartel Arrests Halt the Fentanyl Traffic? 

DEEP DIVE — Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a co-founder and leader of Mexico's notorious Sinaloa Cartel, has entered a not guilty plea to 17 drug [...] More

Latin AmericaAmericasNorth AmericaReporting

Brazil and Colombia Should Support Democracy in Venezuela 

Ambassador Patrick Duddy

Brazil and Colombia Should Support Democracy in Venezuela 

OPINION — Absent a last-minute alteration of the electoral calendar by Venezuela’s authoritarian regime, Venezuelans will go to the polls on July 28 [...] More

Latin America
High Stakes for Venezuela – and U.S. – in Crucial Vote

High Stakes for Venezuela – and U.S. – in Crucial Vote

SUBSCRIBER+ EXCLUSIVE REPORTING — On July 28, Venezuela’s authoritarian President, Nicolás Maduro, will face his most formidable electoral challenge [...] More

Latin AmericaAmericasReporting
A Thousand Kenyan Police are Headed to Haiti Where "Gangs Rule"

A Thousand Kenyan Police are Headed to Haiti Where "Gangs Rule"

SUBSCRIBER+REPORTING — After a long wait and amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation, Haiti may soon be getting an international security [...] More

Latin AmericaAmericasReporting