By Sophie Ritzenthaler This week, former president Evo Morales has been leading anti-government protests against current president Luis Arce. Anti-government protesters and supporters of President Arce clashed in Bolivia’s capital of La Paz as fears of further unrest and an economic crisis grow. Morales was the president of Bolivia from 2006-2019 before stepping down after... Continue Reading →
By Sophie Ritzenthaler The Peruvian President Dina Boluarte declared a state of emergency in three regions of Peru on Wednesday, September 18, as forest fires have continued to burn. In San Martin, Amazonas, and Ucayali regions, a 60 day state of emergency has been declared as extra resources have been allocated to slow the spread... Continue Reading →
By Sophie Ritzenthaler On Thursday, September 12, the United States imposed sanctions on 16 Venezuelan officials who are closely aligned with President Nicolas Maduro for obstructing the results of the presidential election. These were judicial and elections officials who have been accused of aiding in certifying Maduro’s controversial win in Venezuela’s presidential election earlier this... Continue Reading →
By Sophie Ritzenthaler Fuel Truck Truckers around Colombia have been protesting higher diesel fuel prices since last Saturday, August 31st, with protests intensifying on Tuesday. These protests come after the government announced a 26 cent increase per gallon. Truckers blocked roads across the country and police reported 120 permanent blockades at one point, forcing people... Continue Reading →
Written by Joseph Cain | May 1, 2024 President Daniel Noboa & Lavinia Valbonesi In Ecuador, a primarily security-focused referendum was held on April 21st aimed at addressing rising violence fueled by the drug trade amid increasing pressure from the Ecuadorian populace for solutions from the state. The result of the referendum, pushed by President... Continue Reading →
Written by Joseph Cain | April 22, 2024 Gabriel Boric (President of Chile) In the past week, Gabriel Boric (President of Chile) recalled his ambassador from Venezuela after Tren de Aragua’s sophisticated kidnapping and murder of former Venezuelan Military Officer, and political refugee, Ronald Ojeda in Santiago, Chile. The primary driver for Boric’s decision was... Continue Reading →
Written by Joseph Cain | April 15, 2024 Jorge Glas Ecuador was thrown into the global spotlight after it decided to conduct a raid on the Mexican Embassy in Quito to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas (2013-2017) on April 5th. Mexico has broken off diplomatic ties with Ecuador over the raid. These moves create... Continue Reading →
Written by Joseph Cain | April 1, 2024 Nicolas Maduro Venezuela's upcoming presidential election, slated for July 28, 2024, will almost certainly be merely symbolic after Maduro-aligned courts barred Maria Corina Machado, the overwhelming winner of the Venezuelan opposition primary in October 2023, from political office for 15 years on corruption charges. This tactic of... Continue Reading →
Written by Joseph Cain | March 25, 2024 Javier Milei In the past week, Argentine President Javier Milei marked his 100th day in office since being sworn in on December 10th, 2023. He inherited an economy in shambles after years of populist Peronist policies pushed by his predecessors, Alberto Fernandez and Christina Kirchner, that fueled... Continue Reading →
Written by Joseph Cain | March 14 2024 Prime Minister Alberto Otarola’s Peru’s political turmoil continues into 2024, with Prime Minister Alberto Otarola’s March 5th announcement of his resignation after audio leaked that implicated him in influencing government contracts for a former love interest. Otarola claims that the recordings were from 2021 when he was... Continue Reading →
The Patterson Journal of International Affairs 