标签： South America

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially declared his intention to run for a fourth term in the 2026 presidential elections. The announcement, made during a state visit to Indonesia, comes despite Lula’s earlier indications that his 2022 campaign would be his last. Addressing reporters, the 79-year-old leader dismissed concerns about his age, stating, ‘I’m about to turn 80, but I have the same energy I had at 30. I will run for a fourth term in Brazil.’ This decision follows a challenging period for Lula, who has faced health issues during his current presidency, including a brain bleed that required surgery last December. Lula, Brazil’s oldest president upon inauguration, narrowly defeated right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 election, winning by a slim 51% to 49% margin. Bolsonaro, now serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a military coup after his election loss, is unlikely to challenge Lula again. The former president’s imprisonment has sparked tensions with the U.S., leading President Donald Trump to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports. However, Lula and Trump recently held a ‘friendly’ call to discuss reducing these tariffs, with a meeting scheduled for Sunday. Lula, who turns 80 on Monday, has a storied political career, including two terms as president from 2003 to 2011 and an 18-month imprisonment on corruption charges, which were later overturned. Brazil’s constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms, but Lula’s previous terms do not disqualify him from running again. His announcement marks a significant moment in Brazilian politics as the nation prepares for the 2026 elections.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has alleged that an attempt was made to poison him through contaminated gifts of chocolate and jam, containing three highly concentrated toxic substances. Speaking to CNN on Thursday, Noboa asserted that the presence of these chemicals in such high concentrations was “practically impossible” by chance. While he claimed his team possesses evidence supporting the allegation, no concrete proof has been publicly disclosed. This incident marks the third alleged attempt on Noboa’s life in just two months, following violent clashes and protests against his administration’s policies, including a sharp rise in fuel prices and the removal of diesel subsidies. Noboa, a center-right leader, has implemented military crackdowns on drug gangs but faces accusations of targeting protesters. He dismissed suggestions that these alleged attempts were staged to portray his detractors as violent, stating, “No one throws a Molotov cocktail at themselves… or poisons themselves with chocolate.” Earlier in October, Ecuador’s government detained five individuals over an alleged assassination attempt, during which about 500 people reportedly threw rocks at the president’s car, leaving “signs of bullet damage.” However, the BBC could not independently confirm a bullet was fired. In late September, a humanitarian convoy carrying Noboa and including UN and EU diplomats was ambushed by approximately 350 people, who attacked with Molotov cocktails and took 17 soldiers hostage. Noboa shared images of the damaged vehicles on social media. Meanwhile, a national strike led by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie) against the government’s decision to end diesel subsidies concluded on Thursday after weeks of protests. Conaie, which has historically played a pivotal role in Ecuadorian politics, led demonstrations that ousted three presidents between 1997 and 2005.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The upcoming midterm elections in Argentina have taken on heightened significance, as President Javier Milei faces mounting pressure from both domestic and international fronts. Initially perceived as a routine legislative vote, the election has now become a pivotal moment that could determine the future of Milei’s ambitious free-market reforms. The stakes were further escalated when former U.S. President Donald Trump linked financial aid to Argentina’s electoral outcome, adding a layer of geopolitical tension to the race.

Milei, a libertarian leader and close ally of Trump, came to power promising to dismantle Argentina’s entrenched political corruption and implement sweeping economic reforms. Early in his tenure, his policies delivered notable successes, including Argentina’s first fiscal surplus in nearly 15 years and a significant reduction in inflation. These achievements bolstered his popularity, allowing him to champion his anti-socialist agenda on the global stage, from Europe to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.

However, Milei’s political fortunes have taken a sharp downturn in recent months. A series of scandals, including allegations of corruption involving his sister and the withdrawal of a key candidate linked to a U.S. drug trafficking case, have tarnished his image as a reformist outsider. Tactical missteps, such as failing to build coalitions and alienating potential allies, have further weakened his position. The opposition-dominated Congress has overturned his vetoes and passed spending measures, complicating his reform agenda.

As Argentines grapple with the harsh realities of austerity measures, public support for Milei has waned. His party’s recent electoral defeat in Buenos Aires province, home to 40% of the population, underscored this shift. The loss triggered a sell-off of Argentine bonds and the peso, prompting the U.S. to intervene with a $20 billion currency swap and promises of additional financial support. Yet, these measures have failed to stabilize the peso, which hit a record low against the dollar.

Trump’s conditional aid has sparked backlash both in Argentina and the U.S., with critics questioning the wisdom of propping up a nation with a history of defaults. In Argentina, the opposition Peronist party has seized on Trump’s remarks to rally voters against Milei, framing the election as a referendum on national sovereignty. As the country heads to the polls, the outcome will not only shape Milei’s political future but also test the resilience of his free-market experiment in a nation weary of economic instability.

In a significant escalation of military presence, the U.S. deployed a pair of supersonic B-1 Lancer bombers to the Venezuelan coast on Thursday, marking the second such exercise in just over a week. This maneuver, part of a broader training simulation designed to mimic an attack, has fueled widespread speculation about the Trump administration’s intentions toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro, who faces U.S. charges of narcoterrorism, has been under increasing scrutiny as the U.S. military bolsters its forces in the Caribbean Sea and surrounding waters. Since early September, the U.S. has conducted lethal strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking off Venezuela’s coast, further intensifying tensions. Flight tracking data revealed that the B-1 bombers, capable of carrying more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft, departed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and traversed the Caribbean. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the training exercise. The recent deployment follows a similar mission involving B-52 Stratofortress bombers and F-35B stealth fighter jets last week. President Trump dismissed claims that the flights were intended to increase military pressure on Venezuela, stating, ‘It’s false, but we’re not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons. Drugs being one of them.’ The U.S. military presence in the region now includes eight warships, P-8 patrol aircraft, MQ-9 drones, and an F-35 squadron, with a submarine also operating in South American waters. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth likened the administration’s anti-drug campaign to the post-9/11 war on terrorism, vowing to dismantle drug networks with the same intensity. The latest strikes, which expanded operations to the eastern Pacific, have resulted in at least 37 fatalities. Trump has also hinted at extending these operations to land-based targets, emphasizing readiness to ‘hit them very hard.’

The longstanding alliance between the United States and Colombia, once a cornerstone of Washington’s Latin American strategy, is now teetering on the brink of collapse. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, tensions between him and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have escalated, culminating in a dramatic suspension of US aid to Colombia. This move came after Trump accused Petro of encouraging drug production, while Petro countered by alleging US military strikes violated Colombian sovereignty and resulted in civilian deaths. The rift between the two leaders, who hail from opposite ends of the political spectrum, has exposed deep fissures in a partnership that has endured for decades. The US-Colombia alliance, forged in the early 2000s under the ‘Plan Colombia’ initiative, aimed to combat drug trafficking and strengthen Colombian security forces. While the program achieved some successes, including weakening the FARC guerrilla group, it has faced criticism for failing to address the root causes of drug production. Cocaine production in Colombia has reached record highs, and the US military’s recent campaign in the Caribbean has highlighted the persistence of the drug trade. The suspension of aid, which exceeded $400 million in 2024, threatens to undermine Colombia’s security efforts and embolden organized crime groups. Analysts warn that the breakdown of this alliance could have far-reaching consequences for both nations, as they remain deeply interdependent in their fight against narcotics. The situation is further complicated by Petro’s domestic challenges, including rising violence from armed groups, and Trump’s controversial drug enforcement policies, which have drawn criticism for their legality and effectiveness. As the two leaders continue to clash, the future of US-Colombia relations hangs in the balance.