标签： South America

Belize, a small Central American nation, has entered into a landmark agreement with the United States to serve as a ‘safe third country’ for migrants seeking asylum in the US. The deal, which awaits approval from the Belize Senate, would allow migrants deported from the US to apply for asylum in Belize rather than returning to their countries of origin. Prime Minister John Antonio Briceño described the arrangement as akin to a ‘job program,’ emphasizing that qualified individuals could contribute meaningfully to Belize’s economy. The US State Department hailed the agreement as a critical step in curbing illegal immigration and addressing abuses of the asylum system. However, the deal has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, which warn that migrants could face harm in third countries. Belize’s Foreign Ministry assured that the agreement includes stringent security measures to safeguard national sovereignty and allows Belize full discretion in approving or rejecting transfers. Opposition leader Tracy Taegar Panton expressed concerns about the potential financial and security implications for Belize. This agreement mirrors similar deals with other Central American nations, including Paraguay, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras. The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader immigration policies, which have intensified since his re-election, including a recent Supreme Court ruling enabling deportations to non-home countries without risk assessments.

Bolivia has ushered in a new political era with the election of centrist senator Rodrigo Paz as its next president, marking the end of nearly 20 years of dominance by the Movement for Socialism (Mas) party. In a decisive run-off election, Paz, representing the Christian Democratic Party, secured 54.6% of the vote, defeating right-wing candidate Jorge ‘Tuto’ Quiroga. The election outcome reflects widespread voter dissatisfaction with Bolivia’s severe economic crisis and internal divisions within Mas, which has governed since 2006. Paz campaigned on a platform of ‘capitalism for all,’ pledging to address fuel shortages, attract international investment, and stimulate private-sector growth. His victory speech emphasized a commitment to economic reform and social programs aimed at alleviating poverty. Paz’s moderate stance appealed to undecided and disillusioned left-leaning voters, who sought change but were reluctant to support Quiroga. Quiroga conceded defeat, and Paz’s supporters celebrated in the streets of La Paz, expressing hope for a new direction. Bolivia faces significant challenges, including fuel shortages, a dollar deficit, and soaring inflation, exacerbated by plummeting natural gas exports. Paz has pledged to ease credit access for small businesses, reduce taxes and import tariffs, combat corruption, and decentralize government. However, his plan to cut unsustainable fuel subsidies may prove contentious. Internationally, Paz’s election could signal a thaw in Bolivia’s strained relations with the United States, which have lacked formal diplomatic ties since 2008. The U.S. State Department expressed optimism about partnering with Paz to restore economic stability and strengthen security. Paz may also recalibrate Bolivia’s alliances, potentially distancing the country from Venezuela and Cuba while maintaining trade ties with China, a key partner for Bolivia’s mineral and lithium exports. Paz’s running mate, Edman Lara, a former police captain known for his anti-corruption stance, helped attract working-class voters. The election result underscores a national desire for change, but Paz inherits a deeply divided country and a challenging economic landscape. He will take office on November 8, 2025, with the formidable task of restoring economic credibility and uniting Bolivia after years of political turmoil.

In a historic turn of events, centrist senator Rodrigo Paz has emerged as Bolivia’s next president, according to preliminary results announced on Monday. This victory signals a dramatic political transformation for the nation, ending nearly two decades of dominance by the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party and ushering in a new era amid the country’s most severe economic crisis in decades. Paz secured 54.5% of the vote, defeating his rival, former right-wing President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, who garnered 45.5%. Óscar Hassenteufel, president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, declared the outcome irreversible. Paz’s campaign, bolstered by his running mate, ex-police captain Edman Lara, resonated deeply with working-class and rural voters frustrated by skyrocketing inflation and acute dollar shortages that have disrupted food and fuel supplies. Despite widespread disillusionment with MAS, many Bolivians remained wary of Quiroga’s abrupt shift away from the party’s social protections toward an IMF-backed economic model. Paz’s victory sets Bolivia on an uncertain path as he seeks to implement sweeping reforms, including ending the fixed exchange rate, phasing out fuel subsidies, and reducing public investment. While his Christian Democratic Party holds a slight majority in Congress, Paz will need to navigate compromises to enact his ambitious agenda. His supporters celebrated in the streets of La Paz, hailing the election as a turning point for the nation. Quiroga conceded gracefully, urging calm and unity. The U.S. State Department extended congratulations, signaling a potential thaw in bilateral relations strained since Morales expelled the U.S. ambassador in 2008. However, Paz inherits a dire economic situation, with inflation at a 32-year high and severe fuel shortages. He has pledged to avoid IMF intervention, instead focusing on anti-corruption measures and restoring confidence in Bolivia’s currency. Despite criticism of his vague fiscal plans, Paz’s message of gradual free-market reforms and his appeal to diverse voter groups have positioned him as a unifying figure in a deeply divided nation.

In a stunning political upset, centrist candidate Rodrigo Paz emerged victorious in Bolivia’s presidential runoff on Sunday, marking the first time in two decades that a conservative leader has claimed the presidency. The 58-year-old senator, previously a relatively obscure figure, defeated his prominent right-wing rival, former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, to become Bolivia’s next head of state, set to assume office on November 8. Paz’s triumph comes amid a severe economic crisis, with the country grappling with fuel shortages, a scarcity of U.S. dollars, and the collapse of the statist economic model established under the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, led by former President Evo Morales. Paz campaigned on a platform of gradual economic reforms, contrasting with Quiroga’s more aggressive fiscal shock proposals, and promised to address inequality and unemployment. His victory signals a potential shift in Bolivia’s political and economic trajectory, as well as a reset in relations with the United States, which Paz has emphasized as crucial for Bolivia’s future. His running mate, ex-police Captain Edman Lara, played a pivotal role in the campaign, amplifying Paz’s anti-corruption message and resonating with working-class and Indigenous voters. Despite his plans to eliminate fuel subsidies and devalue the Bolivian currency, Paz’s populist tone and promises of cash handouts for the poor helped secure broad support across the nation.

In a sharp escalation of tensions between the United States and Colombia, former President Donald Trump announced on Sunday his intention to slash U.S. funding to the South American nation, accusing Colombian President Gustavo Petro of failing to curb drug production. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, labeled Petro as “an illegal drug dealer” and criticized him as “low rated and very unpopular.” He warned that if Petro does not act to shut down drug operations, the U.S. would intervene, albeit in a manner that “won’t be done nicely.” Trump also misspelled Colombia as “Columbia” in his initial post, which he later corrected. Colombia’s Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the country’s efforts, stating that Colombia has “used all its capabilities” and sacrificed lives in the fight against drug trafficking. Trump’s remarks come amid growing friction between the two nations, with the U.S. recently conducting military strikes targeting alleged drug traffickers in Colombian waters. Earlier, Petro accused the U.S. of assassination following a strike that killed a Colombian fisherman, Alejandro Carranza, whom Petro claimed had no ties to drug trafficking. The U.S. has repatriated survivors of recent strikes, including an Ecuadorian man, Andrés Fernando Tufiño Chila, who was found to be in good health. Meanwhile, Colombia remains the world’s largest exporter of cocaine, with coca cultivation reaching record levels last year, according to the United Nations.

Bolivia is set to hold a crucial runoff presidential election on Sunday, with voters poised to choose between two conservative candidates who promise to steer the country away from nearly two decades of socialist rule under the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. The election comes at a time when Bolivia is grappling with a severe economic crisis marked by a U.S. dollar shortage, skyrocketing inflation, and fuel shortages. The value of the boliviano has plummeted on the black market, and year-on-year inflation has surged to 23%, the highest since 1991. Both candidates, right-wing former President Jorge ‘Tuto’ Quiroga and centrist senator Rodrigo Paz, have positioned themselves as agents of change, vowing to dismantle the populist policies that have dominated Bolivia since Evo Morales, the country’s first Indigenous president, took office in 2006. Quiroga advocates for immediate economic reforms, including a rescue package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and drastic cuts in state spending. Paz, on the other hand, favors a more gradual approach, promising to phase out fuel subsidies while maintaining social protections for the poor. The election is compulsory, with approximately 7.9 million Bolivians eligible to vote. The outcome will not only determine Bolivia’s economic future but also signal a significant geopolitical shift, potentially moving the country closer to the United States and away from its current allies, China and Russia.