The US government controls Venezuelan oil sales and funnels monthly payments to Delcy Rodriguez's government. This unprecedented level of financial control benefits the regime by providing stability while giving the US leverage and access to oil, a shocking callback to colonial-era dynamics.
Analyzing the Trump administration requires understanding the individual motives of figures like Marco Rubio, not a unified state policy. Trump's foreign relations are based on personal chemistry with leaders like Milei or Bukele, creating a non-transferable, unpredictable policy that lacks long-term strategic direction for future presidents.
China has become the top trade partner for most of Latin America by buying raw commodities (soy, copper) and selling back cheap manufactured goods. This dynamic prevents local economies from moving up the value chain, echoing the extractive models previously imposed by Spain and the United States.
Javier Milei's political strategy relies on highlighting the threat of the Peronists returning to power. This tactic, however, amplifies the exact political instability that deters long-term investment. By constantly reminding markets of the risk of policy reversal, he inadvertently reinforces the country's chronic boom-bust economic cycle.
An expert assesses a 70-80% probability that Cuba will cut a deal with the Trump administration, similar to Venezuela's. Lacking a foreign patron like the USSR or Chavez-era Venezuela, the Cuban regime is motivated by economic desperation to make a pragmatic deal, trading alignment for relief from US sanctions to maintain power.
By cutting a pragmatic deal to stay in power after Maduro's removal, Delcy Rodriguez demonstrated to other Latin American leaders that anyone can partner with Trump. Her success has established a new model: cooperate to gain benefits and avoid the high costs of defiance, shifting the strategic calculus for leaders across the region.
Nayib Bukele's 'monoduro' policies dramatically improved security, a long-held prerequisite for investment. However, foreign capital remains hesitant because the crackdown undermined the rule of law. Businesses fear a leader who can jail 2% of the population can also ignore contracts, showcasing a key paradox of illiberal governance.
A coalition of right-leaning Latin American leaders has aligned with Donald Trump, creating a regional political bloc. However, this "orange shift" is fundamentally tied to Trump's presidency and is expected to dissolve when he leaves office in January 2029, making it a temporary, personality-driven phenomenon rather than a durable ideological realignment.
Markets have panicked upon each of Lula's elections, fearing socialist policies. Yet, historical data shows that investing on his inauguration day has consistently yielded profits. Despite his leftist roots, his administrations have overseen strong market performance, rising employment, and improved public security, confounding investor predictions.